ICE-IEA 11s o DO's

[BRANXXL]

Has anyone heard what the results of the IEA career ladder study resulted. GS9-11-12-DO?

[Sierra]

Bestof my knowledge there have been no results released. I would be surprised if the study has even been completed.

[BP348]

Has anyone heard what the results of the IEA career ladder study resulted. GS9-11-12-DO?

How is the natural progression going to make every IEA a Deportation Officer? How does ICE need that many DO's? I do hope that IEA's get their upgrade.

[BRANXXL]

How is the natural progression going to make every IEA a Deportation Officer? How does ICE need that many DO's? I do hope that IEA's get their upgrade.

From what I understand, DO's duties would start after apprehension--CAP to deportation. That would take some duties from IEAs and put us ALL out in the streets..FUG OPS, LEAR, FAST...when we are done having fun on the streets....we can promote from our 11's to DOs.....just rumor thought.

[Sierra]

The study I am aware of is regarding bringing the IEA to 11, possibly 12. I am not aware of one that would promote to DO without applying for the slot.

[BP348]

From what I understand, DO's duties would start after apprehension--CAP to deportation. That would take some duties from IEAs and put us ALL out in the streets..FUG OPS, LEAR, FAST...when we are done having fun on the streets....we can promote from our 11's to DOs.....just rumor thought.

Sorry don't see that happening. I can see IEA's going to a GS-11 but I wouldn't count on a GS-12.

[BRANXXL]

12 would be the DO position......Here is the latest:


AFGE Council 118 ICE would like to provide an update and clarification on the current status of DRO bargaining unit employee upgrades.

DRO Director James Chaparro has informed the Council that he and Assistant Secretary John Morton are in support of upgrading positions and developing career ladders for ICE DRO bargaining unit employees. To accomplish this goal, the Agency has started with a two-part survey that was disseminated to selected DRO employees last week. The first part of the survey entails questions for Deportation Officers and Immigration Enforcement Agents. The second part, which is soon to follow, contains questions for Detention and Removal Assistants. The Council is confident that these surveys will confirm the Union’s continuing assertions that DRO employees nationwide are performing higher-graded work.

As stated previously, we share the concerns that many of you have regarding why ICE DRO employees are participating in this survey process which is clearly a different process than that which was used for the 50,000 CBP employees who were approved for upgrades by DHS Secretary Napolitano in October 2009. However, we also believe that the delays in making those CBP upgrades effective are evidence that DHS did not properly plan the upgrades and are now experiencing problems as a result. This is why ICE is now using a more systematic approach. Our main goal now is to stay heavily involved in the surveys and related activities and protect your best interest as this process continues.

It is important to point out that your Council has been and continues to be the driving force behind the upgrades and career ladders. The upgrades and the development of career ladders for DRO employees are the Council’s highest priorities. Most recently, however, we learned that there are disturbing rumors circulating that supervisors are telling employees that the Council is holding up the progress of the upgrades. This rumor is FALSE, and we ask employees to report all supervisors participating in this type of misconduct to the Council. While there was a delay, it was because the initial questions for the survey that were developed by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) were primarily related to training and not upgrades, and excluded Detention and Removal Assistants. Without the Council’s intervention and this minor delay, we would have surveys focused on training, not upgrades and career ladder promotions, and the exclusion of DRAs. Both were unacceptable and had to be changed for the good of DRO employees and the Agency.

Finally, we understand there are rumors regarding the effective date of the upgrades once the JHU study is submitted to the Agency. One such rumor is that the upgrades will be effective in September 2011. At this time, we do not have any confirmation regarding a date because the Agency will be required to obtain DHS, OMB and Congressional approval for the additional funds. We do not know how long this process will take, but we continue with our lobbying efforts with Congress to gain support.

We urge you to disregard rumors and contact one of the Council officers listed below if you hear anything, positive or negative, about the upgrades so that we can provide you with accurate information

[BP348]

I hate to tell you this but that's a whole bunch of nothing. It's a page full of We're looking in to upgrades. Big deal that dosen't mean it will happen. It will be interesting to see if somewhere down the road the D.O. position dosen't become a senior IEA or something like that.

As far as the CBP upgrades go I believe CBP announced the upgrades to early. They're saying September 30th but I'm putting my bet on PP#1. I just can't see them giving the upgrades until next years budget is signed.

Wait till January or February next year and if the upgrades havent happened yet then I can see problems.