Officer and Steward Meeting:
July 22, 2008, in the union office, Room 106.

Stewards Awaiting Training:
You may have noticed this new heading in our Officers and Stewards page. It is a new section created to list 'new stewards' until they have had the opportunity to complete training courses sponsored by the National Office.

Union Office In New Location:
We're in our new office in Room 106 in the 3rd Street Building and we thank everyone who helped with our move. Facilities, computer and telephone folks. They all did a fantastic job.

Members Who Have Recruited New Members This Fiscal Year:
Mark Daggett, Sandy Elder, Charlotte Adkins, Rita Hiley, Margaret Miller and Russell Wooten.

Stewards and Representation:
We receive a lot of calls asking "who is the steward in 'my area?"'. It has been many years since the chapter was required to assign stewards to a specific work area, the only area they were allowed to represent employees in. Our current contract allows any steward to represent bargaining-unit employees in ANY office. When you need to speak with a steward you should phone the Union Office at Ext. 6324 and we will arrange for you to meet with a Chapter Steward.

Hand Sanitizer:
The hand sanitizer you see around the building is being provided by the NTEU/BPD Partnership Council. Offices may contact us for a replacement when their supply runs out at Ext. 6324,

Partnership Council Meeting:
The next quarterly meeting of the NTEU/BPD Partnership Council will be July 30 2008.
Council members are Alicia Payne, Russell Wooten, Rita Hiley, Fred Pyatt, Kim McCoy, and John Swales.

Investigation Meetings With A Member of Management:
If you are called in as a witness in an investigation you are entitled to union representation. Requesting representation doesn't mean you have something to hide, it means you are smart. Tell the specialist you request representation and do not meet until you get it.
NOTE: Sometime after the interview/investigation Labor Relations provides a statement/affidavit/declaration (in other words, their notes of the meeting) and asks you to sign it. You are not required to sign this.

Contract Negotiations June 3, 2008:
Two members of the Chapter Term Contract Negotiating Team, Russell Wooten and Rita Hiley, were in Washington, DC, June 2 thru 5 for contract mediation. Dale Graddon of the National Office is the Chief Negotiator for the NTEU.

Steward Training: (March 12 & 13)
NTEU National Assistance Counsel Alicia Payne of the Atlanta, Georgia Field Office, conducted a two day steward training course on Grievance Handling, Representation, Investigatory Interviews, and other issues. Ms. Payne will return to the Chapter in the summer for additional training classes. Stewards attending were Mark Daggett, Charlotte Adkins, Sandy Elder,Charles Evans, Melissa Coplin, Lea Schnell, John Lorentz, Janice Kelly, Kay Marks, Mike Miller, Sharon Towner, Margaret Miller, Rita Hiley and Russell Wooten..

2008 Legislative Conference:
Russell Wooten, Margaret Miller, and Mark Daggett attended the NTEU Legislative Conference in Washington DC, March 3 thru March 7. They lobbied members of Congress on behalf of Federal employees about Privalization of Federal Jobs, Social Security Offsets, Fair Pay Raises, Labor Management Partnerships (Public Debt is one of a small number of Bureau's that currently has an active Partnership Council), Health Care Affordability, and Department of Homeland Security Issues. Go to the Presidents Corner for more information about the Conference.

Check Out the Local Discount Link:
We have a new merchants participating and expect to add more in the near future.

Chapter Benefits Coordinator:
Charlotte Adkins has accepted the position of Chapter 190 Benefits Coordinator. Please direct any questions you have regarding benefits to Charlotte.

Term Contract Negotiations:
Contract Negotiations took place December 18, 19 and 20 at the CAPS Building in Mineral Wells. NTEU team members are: Dale Graddon - NTEU National Negotiator, Russell Wooten, Rita Hiley, Margaret Miller, Mark Daggett, and Sandra Elder. Members of the Bureau Team are: Ray Young, Tracy Walters, Helen Reilly, Karen Burchard, and Corissa Jackson.

Chapter Office Move:
We have relocated from Room 408 to Room 122. That is the far front corner of the first floor on the Court House/City Building end. If you have trouble finding us just give us a call at Ext. 6324 and we'll help you.

2007 NTEU Convention:
Chapter President Russell Wooten and Vice Presidents Rita Hiley and Margaret Miller attended the 51st National Convention in New York City in August.

Chapter 190 was the winner of the web site award for bargaining units with more than 750 members. The judges for this contest used three primary criteria: web site content, maintenance and the harder to define but still very important �look and feel� of the site.

2007 Annual NTEU Legislative Conference:
Chapter Leaders attended the Legislative Conference in Washington DC in March. The featured speaker at the opening session was House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

We attended the Vigil of Lights, an evening candle light ceremony to honor the sacrifice of CBP officers who have fallen in the line of duty. The ceremony is held outside at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at 5th and E Streets. Chapter President Wooten gave the opening prayer.

Member Recruiting Pays:
Chapter members in good standing will receive $20 for each new union member they recruit. Applications are available here on the website or from the Chapter Office, Room 122 in the 3rd Street Building. Membership Application

Retiring Chapter Members:
Maintain your chapter membership upon retiring for the low cost of $47 per year. Contact the union office for details.

NTEU National President Visits 190:
Colleen Kelley, National President, and Aileen Johnson, Assistant Counsel, visited our Chapter in October 2006 President Kelley attended the Partnership Council Meeting in the morning, spoke to the membership at a �Towne Hall Meeting�, and met individuals at a �Meet and Greet� in the Chapter Office before leaving for Charleston for her flight.