CREA Board of Governors Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2018
LM-412 Conference Room, 12-1 pm
In attendance:
| Governors
Jared Brown, G&F Karma Ester, DSP Joel Greene, RSI Carol Hardy-Vincent, RSI |
Officers
Clint Brass, Treasurer Michael Martin, Vice President Libby Perl, Secretary Susan Thaul, President |
Stewards and Others |
Minutes: The board approved minutes from the June 6, 2018 and July 11, 2018 board meetings.
Mercury Guidelines: In the August 7, 2018 Tuesday Morning Update (TMU), CRS management asked staff for comments about the new Mercury guidelines that had been posted in the July 10, 2018 TMU. The Board discussed changes from previous practices and possible limitations to the new guidelines. President Thaul encouraged individuals to submit comments or questions to management.
Metro Disruptions: Due to track work on numerous metro lines during the month of August, on July 20, 2018, CRS Director Mary Mazanec notified staff via email that they could ask for episodic offsite work without the requirement for deadline driven work. The Board discussed what they knew about whether staff were submitting applications and being approved for episodic offsite work. It seemed that episodic offsite work was being approved inconsistently across divisions. President Thaul said she would speak to Director Mazanec about the issue.
Consultative Management: Vice President Martin and Governor Brown updated the board about progress they have made on consultative management.
Office of Compliance: President Thaul told the Board that she has attended several briefings with the Office of Compliance (OOC) about how staff can go to that office with complaints regarding the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act requirements. This is a change in law, and previously Library employees did not have the option to bring these complaints to the OOC.
CRS Practices Regarding Events with Non-Congressional Attendees: The Board discussed CRS policy regarding the ability of CRS analysts and attorneys to present or moderate at events with non-Congressional attendees and whether requirements had changed.
Meeting of the Union Presidents with the Librarian: President Thaul updated the Board on the most recent meeting of the union presidents with the Librarian. Thaul and Vice President Salaam-Blyther attended and represented CREA.