In order to further improve the lines of communication and to respond to the concerns between the National VA Council and you our members, I have established a National VA Council Briefing. This NVAC Briefing will bring you the latest news and developments within DVA and provide you with the current status of issues this Council is currently addressing. I believe that this NVAC Briefing will greatly enhance the way in which we communicate and the way in which we share new information, keeping you better informed. Alma L. Lee National VA Council, President

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In This Briefing: SATURDAY PREMIUM PAY UPDATE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Per my directions, on March 18, 2005, Jacqueline Sims, AFGE-NVAC Staff Counsel, sent a letter to Donald S. Wasserman, the arbitrator for the Saturday Premium Pay case, requesting that he "retain jurisdiction over the case for the purpose of resolving any possible disputes that may arise over the implementation of the award" as ordered by him in his February 16, 2005 Decision and Award". Additionally, Ms Sims requested that "AFGE's request for attorney fees be held in abeyance until VA completes the review and development process in order for the arbitrator to ascertain whether the prerequisites for fees under the Back Pay Act have been met." A copy of this letter was also sent to the VA attorney who participated in the Saturday Premium Pay arbitration.

Following a verbal request by the arbitrator, a conference call was held on March 24, 2005, so that the arbitrator could hear both parties' positions on AFGE's March 18, 2005 request. During the conference call, counsel for VA informed the arbitrator that she did not oppose AFGE's request. Therefore, the arbitrator agreed to retain jurisdiction over the case and to hold the issue of attorney fees in abeyance until VA complied with his February 16, 2005 Decision and Award. Additionally, counsel for VA informed the arbitrator and Ms Sims that she would provide them with updates on the status of VA's progress in the reconstruction of the implementation process.

In the February 16, 2005 decision, the arbitrator also urge VA to "seek appropriate assistance from and formally consult with, OPM in accomplishing the reconstruction of the implementation process, and he stated that "VA may also find it beneficial to consult with other organizations or entities, perhaps even AFGE." To date, VA has not contacted AFGE regarding its implementation process. Therefore, I have directed Ms Sims to contact VA and request that they provide AFGE with regular updates on the implementation process so that our members can be directly informed on VA's progress in determining the eligibility of all VHA employees for Saturday Premium Pay.