Message to our Membership on the Collective Bargaining EO

On August 28th, President Trump declared NASA to be one of the agencies that perform “national security functions,” repudiating all NASA collective bargaining agreements in an executive order (EO). Note this EO does not prohibit NASA from having unions. The EO is illegal, and the legality of similar EOs is being fought in the courts. The IFPTE, our parent union, and other national unions associated with our NASA sister centers are working to determine a course of action. WE ARE FIGHTING THIS.

Here’s what you can do RIGHT NOW:

• Sign up to pay dues via Zeffy to maintain your support and remain a union member.
• Submit your best personal email  to get the latest union news.
  

We expect management to ignore the collective bargaining agreement. However, we are not finished. A union is not a contract, it's not a certificate of recognition, it's not a nonprofit. A union is a collective organization of workers -- it's US, and we are still here. GESTA is working quickly to determine how to operate while these executive orders are fought in the courts, but we are strong, we are many, and we can still organize. 
 
Even without management recognition of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, we can still legally be a union and support one another in the following ways:

• Support and advise employees with respect to management decisions.
• Object to management mistakes under the administrative procedures act.
• File administrative grievances and represent employees.
• Assist employees with filing Merit Systems Protection Board, Equal Employment Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodations claims and requests.
• Fight discrimination and defend targeted co-workers.
• Work safe and healthy and help workers who get hurt.
• Stay informed, Agitate for change, Speak out and Keep learning!

 
We have been working to set up an online payment platform for dues outside the payroll system, made all the more urgent by this EO, and it is now available on Zeffy. Please sign up now to maintain your support and remain a member of the union. We expect automatic payroll deduction to be discontinued. We will work with members who transition from payroll to Zeffy to reimburse any double-billing of dues that occur. Members can also choose to donate any extra amount to GESTA. To stop payroll deductions on your own you can submit form SF1188. If you have any questions pertaining to dues, please contact us.
 
Stay informed!
Communication is vital, so if you haven’t already, please submit your best personal email to ensure you’re receiving the latest information from GESTA, the IFPTE, and the vast federal union network. We are far from done; the fire has been lit, and we are just getting started.
 
Solidarity Forever.