It appears that Director Dudas' gratitude for all the hard work of the
examining corps to make him and the agency look good in FY 2006 has been very
short-lived.
On Nov. 16, the agency served notice on POPA that it intends to implement the
flat goal pilot program next Wednesday, November 22, 2006. Furthermore, the
agency is attempting to strong-arm the union stating:
"Unless you limit your proposals in this bargaining to the procedures and
appropriate arrangements in response to management's decision to implement a Flat
Goal Pilot by next Wednesday, November 22, 2006, and agree in writing that you
will not further claim that the entire topic is permissive, we will conclude
that you have no interest in bargaining over these issues and will begin the
implementation process for the pilot, based upon our last best offer."
Management has refused to bargain on almost every one of POPA's proposals on
this subject and has misunderstood and/or mischaracterized our positions and
proposals throughout these negotiations.
Even with the survey data that we made public in this most recent newsletter,
management just doesn't get it that examiners do not want this program and that
it will negatively impact the quality of examination at the USPTO and the
retention of employees.
Or perhaps they just don't care.
POPA's flat goal negotiating team and I will be preparing an appropriate
response to management's ultimatum during the next several days. Please remind
those you work with in your respective technology areas that, while this pilot may
look appealing to a few examiners with high examining time, it will be very
detrimental to the the vast majority of the examining corps. In addition, while
it might look good to some now, everyone needs to remember that an employee's
circumstances can change very rapidly and significantly in time and then the
nightmare of the flat goal will not be very enjoyable.
For more information, please see the headline article in the November issue of
POPA News.
THE RAW GOAL PILOT PROGRAM IS TRULY A RAW DEAL FOR EMPLOYEES.