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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (23594)	1/9/2004 7:22:56 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793754

Why I would not survive as a Cabinet Member. Fighting Words By Amelia Gruber and Chris Strohm agruber@govexec.com An October outburst against federal employee union members has landed the acting secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department in trouble. Alphonso Jackson, who stepped in as HUD secretary when Mel Martinez left last month to run for a Senate seat, railed against members of the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) Local 1450 during an Oct. 20, 2003 meeting at a Los Angeles field office. The verbal attack violated federal labor laws and HUD policies, the union charged. "When I was a child, it took my father three whuppings to get the message through to me," Jackson allegedly told 110 meeting attendees. "And that's what I am prepared to do. I do not want any more problems from this field office." Jackson, nominated on Dec. 12 to permanently replace Martinez, purportedly called NFFE projects "asinine," and singled out R. Scott Reed, the union's field office representative, in a stream of insults. Jackson threatened to watch Reed's work performance closely for signs of improper union activity. This outburst intimidated union members, NFFE complained to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA). In December 2003, the FLRA found evidence that Jackson had violated a federal law prohibiting agencies from meddling with employees' right to "seek the union's assistance, free of restraint or coercion." In addition, Jackson's tirade violated the HUD field office's May 2002 policy on workplace violence, the union claimed. This policy outlaws "violent outbursts, intimidation, threats, harassment, bullying or other forms of aggressive or disruptive behavior." FLRA suggested that Jackson post apologies for his attack in the HUD office. The notices would assert that he is committed to "a positive and effective labor-management relationship." HUD agreed to the terms of the proposed settlement, but the union said the agreement did not go far enough. govexec.com