News
Removal of NTEU materials in the workplace WIN!
NTEU materials around the country were being removed from bulletin boards and employee desks. They want employees to believe there is no more union, simply because they sent us an email and say so. Because if there no union, there is no one to continue the fight in court and arbitration. It may seem like a small win right now, with everything we have dealt with in the past year, but it's not!
Chapter 65 has recently removed NTEU Chapter 65 flyers throughout NFCB due to NEW FMSS Policy dated August 5, 2026. However, at this time while the court process continues, we ARE allowed to post NTEY flyers at our individual workstations.
Telework Arbitration
Telework Arbitration was held May 14th.
The arbitration decision came on July 17th and.........
WE WON!
The IRS was determined to have violated Article 50, the Remote Work Project MOU and committed unfair labor practices.
What happens next?
Exceptions WERE expected to filed by the IRS (an appeal of the arbitrator's decision).
Please check your email, NTEU sent an email reference the Telework Arbitration and exceptions that WERE expected. As of August 18th, no record of exceptions have been received.
Involuntary Details
A grievance for involuntary details was filed February 2026 and amended in April 2026 for additional violations concerning post-training testing and examinations that would be used in performance ratings.
We have employees being forced out of their jobs and into jobs they didn't apply for, ask for or want. Their careers are being interrupted, and involuntary details are being forced upon them. Many now in positions at a much lower paygrade.
We are invoking arbitration and scheduling a hearing date.
IT Skills Assessments
On December 2, 2025, NTEU filed a national grievance against the IRS on the grounds that it violated Article 30 (Training) of the CBA and the Federal labor statute by unilaterally rolling out “skills assessments” for certain IT employees.
On January 27, 2026, NTEU invoked arbitration and requested dates for an arbitration hearing. OPM Guidance directed agencies to withdraw from grievances and arbitrations, you remember the February 27, 2026, email that claimed the union was gone!
On March 10, 2026, NTEU objected and provided the arbitrator with the contractual language found in Article 43 (Arbitration) that requires the arbitrator to hold the hearing even if “one party refuses to attend the arbitration”. NTEU also stated we will pay all fees for the arbitrations and will seek reimbursement from the agency later. The arbitrator has not issued a response yet, but we expect that he will schedule the hearing and proceed.
IT Reorganization
On December 11, 2025, the agency informally alerted NTEU of plans to reorganize its Information Technology area starting on December 14, 2025.
The agency provided no details.
Arbitration hearing scheduled for October 1, 2026.
Compressed Work Week / Alternative Work Schedules
On April 14, 2025, NTEU filed a national grievance when the IRS terminated the 4/10 compressed work schedule.
On April 24, 2025, NTEU filed an amended grievance regarding IRS’s termination of 5-4/9, 4/10, and Maxiflex work schedules.
The agency rescinded these changes after a court order and IRS employees were once again allowed to work CWS/AWS schedules; those changes are now back in effect with the June 12, 2026, email. We did not need to go through the step process again for this violation of the contract, instead NTEU is planning to schedule an arbitration hearing after September 30, 2026.
Reasonable Accomodations
Reasonable Accommodation Arbitration was scheduled July 13th.
NTEU is moving for summary judgement on August 18th, in order to move the case quickly through the judicial process.
Litigation has been filed by NTEU for the continued stonewalling of reasonable accommodation requests.
Managers should not be involved in the decision-making process, and employees should not be held in limbo or kept in the dark on their RA requests.
NTEU’s goal in taking this action is to force agencies to ensure the reasonable accommodation process actually works as the law intends, which is to support federal employees.
Exclusions Court Case regarding our union rights
Oral arguments were heard in mid-December.
We are STILL waiting on the decision from the panel of 3 judges on the appeal of the stay on the injunction for our union rights.
We had hoped to receive a decision by June 30th, as the court is now in recess, but we are hopeful a decision may still come soon.
Check this site and your emails for updates. This is a very important case; this is the case that will get our contract back!
Once this appeal is decided, either side can appeal that decision.
The actual court case is on hold until a final appeal decision is made.