President’s Message for FISE

January Newsletter

As we begin 2022, our union is busy engaging with the employer on a number of important issues for our members in the BIA, BIE, AS-IA and the BTFA.  We meet with management monthly in a labor management setting.  This has been very useful to share issues and information to provide the best services to Indian country.

98% of the federal workforce is vaccinated, however, we know that there are ongoing questions about this topic.  After a court injunction earlier in January 2022 (currently under appeal), this mandate is not being enforced. You can find guidance on how the employer is handling this court injunction on this website with Frequently Asked Questions.  

For members who may still have outstanding student loans, there is new information on applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.  If you work for the government for ten years and have federal loans, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness.  This month, Navient, a major student loan collecting company, agreed to cancel $1.7 billion in private student loan debt owed by more than 66,000 borrowers in a settlement with a coalition of state attorney generals. Borrowers who are eligible for student loan forgiveness through this settlement will receive notice by July. If you don’t qualify for this settlement, help is still available through Summer, a program free to AFT members and their families to help navigate borrowers through the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Borrowers who were not previously eligible for PSLF have until October 31, 2022 to apply for a temporary waiver to help earn credit for PSLF for prior years of student loan payments that did not previously qualify. Student loan debt forgiveness can transform the lives of borrowers. Please share Summer widely with fellow union members and don’t miss the October 31st deadline.

Did You Know?

BIA Branch of Irrigation and Power:  The BIA owns and operates, in full or in part, the following revenue-generating irrigation projects: Blackfeet, Colorado River, Crow, Flathead, Fort Belknap, Fort Hall, Fort Peck, Pine River, San Carlos, Uintah, Walker Riv-er, Wapato, and Wind River. Currently, the irrigation program serves approximately 25,000 water users and irrigates over 780,000 acres of land.  The goal of the irrigation program is to improve the management of land and natural resource assets through the delivery of water consistent with applicable State and Federal law, in an environ-mentally responsible and cost-efficient manner.

Who We Are

FISE represents 5,380 employees in four bureaus housed in the Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) , Assistant Secretary/Indian Affairs (AS/IA), Bureau of Trust Fund Administration (BTFA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). There are 602 job titles in our union covering 195 worksites in 21 states. Two examples of job titles in our units can be found below.

Irrigation Systems Operator (BIA) The Operator distributes irrigation water from and between storage reservoirs at diversions and in canals, and at all delivery points within the specified work territory.  Additionally, they are responsible for surveillance of conditions in all structures and facilities (dam gates, canal gates, reservoirs) to regulate and deliver water. This position also works with maintenance crews to clean ditches and structures, repair and replace structures.

Counseling Technician (BIE) The Counseling Technician will perform duties on a paraprofessional level which assist in the delivery of counseling/mental health services to all identified students, particularly those identified as substance abusers. He/she, with assistance and supervision, initiates, plans, and carries out treatment plans for and with individuals, groups, and families. An understanding of therapeutic relationships, an understanding of the psychodynamics of interpersonal situations, and utilization of crises situations to psychologically benefit patients in terms of coping abilities and growth is desirable.

Not a member yet? It’s easy to join! Together we can be a powerful voice for our professions and our work! Click here to get the membership application!

In Unity,

Sue Parton

President
Federation of Indian Service Employees/AFT

Member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma
(505) 243-4088