AFGE recently participated in a meeting with three members of Congress, other unions representing Defense civilian workers, and DoD leadership. During the meeting, DoD officials informed us that the new policy won’t take effect for union members until unions have a chance to bargain over the changes.
The new policy reduces long-term temporary duty (TDY) per diem pay to 75% of the current per diem rate for 30 to 180 days of travel, and cuts the per diem allowance for travel more than 180 days by 45%. The changes took effect Nov. 1, 2014 for military and non-bargaining unit employees. AFGE representatives Alethea Predoux and Sheila McCready raised serious concerns at the meeting as the new policy would unfairly result in employees having to pay out of their own pockets for valid expenses. AFGE will follow up with the department to make sure our members are not unfairly burdened.
