I am pleased to announce the new master agreement between the Forest Service and the National Federation of Federal Employees is complete. The master agreement provides support for employees, union representatives and management by laying out procedures to be followed for various matters affecting the workplace. The new agreement was effective as of June 4, and it replaces the 2019-2022 Master Agreement.

There have been significant changes to federal sector collective bargaining law and policy in recent years, and this agreement aligns with the Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute and current guidance. It aims to build on an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust and transparency, and it reflects our shared values of interdependence and accountability. The NFFE Forest Service Council is the largest bargaining unit in the agency. This new agreement was developed by the union and management negotiating teams.

Negotiations can be complex and almost always involve compromise. Our Code and Commitments were at the forefront of our approach to negotiations, and the agreement balances the interests of management, employees and the union. For instance, the new master agreement clarifies employee rights, maintains the balance between union representatives’ agency work and representational activities, and permits the use of government equipment and facilities for representational purposes. It also creates a new article on work-life balance and reaffirms the commitment of management and the union to work together to proactively identify issues and solve problems affecting bargaining unit employees.

The agreement also revises contractual provisions on promotions and awards, addresses important issues like safety, fire and housing, and incorporates the recently negotiated telework and remote work agreement into the contract. This Is Who We Are challenges us to be values-based, purpose-driven and relationship-focused. The new master agreement recognizes changing needs of both the organization and its employees and reinforces the trust and respect we want to maintain and grow between management, employees and the union.

Changes to the new master agreement and transition guidance will be the focus of upcoming briefings. I expect leadership groups and supervisors to take training related to the new master agreement. Our Labor Relations specialists will work with leadership to develop a frequently asked questions document, updated forms and standard briefing materials to answer questions. Management and the union are developing joint training for all bargaining unit employees and their supervisors, which will be delivered to local units in the coming months. I know that you are committed to ensuring we meet what we’ve laid out in the new agreement, so I expect that you will take this training seriously.  

You are our greatest asset, and the new master agreement reflects our agency commitment to maintaining productive relationships with our union colleagues and increasing employee well-being and productivity. As we work together to implement the new master agreement, we are committed to living our agency core values.

To see if you are covered by the agreement, check block 37 of your latest SF-50. Code 2009 is used for bargaining unit employees represented by NFFE. Read the joint statement from the negotiating teams here.

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