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ocal officers are reminded that they are allowed to negotiate with regard to any change affecting condition of employment whether established by rule, regulation or otherwise affecting working conditions. Additionally based on the President's Executive Order provisions of 7106B of the Civil Service Reform Act, such as numbers, types, grade etc... are fully negotiable.

Locals requiring assistance should first contact their National Representatives and National Vice President from their respective district. If assistance is further needed appropriate members of this council's executive board should be contacted.

I have to emphasize that failure to request timely negotiations may result in unilateral implementation of new conditions of employment by management officials. J

n addition to newsletters written by this council, letters and information throughout the year, requiring action by the membership or simply providing information are furnished to all AFGE Local Presidents. It is imperative that upon receipt of correspondence, Local's distribute this information to it's membership in a timely manner. While most are in fact doing a great job in this respect we have received numerous calls from various local members who have indicated non-receipt of information we have published.

I need to emphasize that one of the primary reasons for existence of this council is to keep individual members informed timely and when necessary provide information relative to action required to support or oppose an issue. Obviously if information is not being distributed to the membership, we as a council can simply not be effective.

All are also reminded that Council 164 now has a WEB SITE (civ-tech164.org) maintained by our WEBMASTER MIKE DENNIS (Mike Dennis is the President of AFGE Local 2955--Air Guard, Des Moines, Iowa).

Providing information is not a one way street. We as your council leadership need members/Locals to provide us with information whether it be Articles to be published in newsletters or problems/assistance which may be required. Without this information it is impossible for the leadership of this Council to provide assistance or share success/failures with other members.

This brings us to the final point. You must keep us abreast of the current information with regard to identification of your Local leadership to include telephone number, fax number and EMAIL addresses.

Help us help each other. J