Determine Your Eligibility
You determine your eligibility as a Bargaining Unit Employee (BUE) by reading your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to locate and identify your Bargaining Unit Status (BUS) Number.
- You need your latest SF-50. You can obtain your latest SF-50 from your eOPF.
- Once you you have your SF-50, look at Block 37.
- Block 37 of the SF-50 form refers to the bargaining unit status of your position. This block indicates whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. It is important to remember that a position is assigned a BUS code, not an employee. When an employee leaves the position, the BUS code remains with that position. If they take a position in another unit, the new position may have a different BUS code which will be reflected on the new SF-50.
- Employees are not obligated to become members simply because they are in a bargaining unit. Nor is Union membership automatic just because the position is in a Bargaining unit. Employees must pay Union dues to become official members. Employees are covered by the negotiated contract of that unit and have a right to Union representation regardless of membership.
Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status: 2009
If Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status says 2009, you are a NFFE-FSC Bargaining Unit Employee. You are covered by the NFFE-FSC Master Agreement. Follow the steps below to complete a Union membership application:
- Download Master Agreement - Appendix A - Bargaining Unit Descriptor Adobe File - 261.43 kB. Search through Appendix A to determine your Local Number and make note of it. You must enter the Local number into the appropriate box of the membership form described in the next step.
- Download the NFFE-FSC SF-1187 Standard Membership PDF form Adobe File - 186.96 kB to your computer.
- Open the PDF form in Adobe Pro/Reader or equivalent application on your computer. Complete the PDF form as required. We prefer the actual PDF form, digitally signed. You may use your LincPass, or create your own digital signature when using Acrobat Reader. Just make sure it is an actual digital signature. (Note: You cannot complete the PDF form in a web browser. You cannot properly complete and sign the PDF form in a smartphone.)
- Send your completed membership PDF form to this address: membership.nffefsc@gmail.com. Make sure the email subject line states: NFFE-FSC 2009 Membership Application.
Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status: 7777
If Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status says 7777, you are not a NFFE-FSC Bargaining Unit Employee. You are not covered by the NFFE-FSC Master Agreement.
- An SF-50 with a code of 7777 in Block 37 indicates that your position is eligible for coverage by a bargaining unit, but no unit currently exists.
- NFFE-FSC is currently collecting 7777 employee information to assist in organizing 7777 employees.
- Download Master Agreement - Appendix A - Bargaining Unit Descriptor Adobe File - 261.43 kB. Search through Appendix A to determine your Local Number and make note of it. You must enter the Local number into the appropriate box of the membership form described in the next step.
- Download the NFFE-FSC SF-1187 Organizing PDF form Adobe File - 194.09 kB to your computer.
- Open the PDF form in Adobe Pro/Reader or equivalent application on your computer. Complete the PDF form as required. (Note: You cannot complete the PDF form in a web browser. You cannot properly complete the PDF form in a smartphone.)
- Print the completed PDF form to create a paper hard copy.
- Sign the paper hard copy completed PDF form with a "wet" signature (pen and ink - black or dark blue). Digital signatures are not accepted.
- Scan your hard copy form to create a digital copy. Or take a CLEAR IMAGE photograph of the signed hard copy form with your smartphone camera.
- Follow the instructions at the bottom of the form as to where you send the scanned copy. Make sure the email subject line states: NFFE-FSC 7777 <Insert Work Unit>
Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status: 8888
You are not a NFFE-FSC Bargaining Unit Employee. You are not covered by the NFFE-FSC Master Agreement.
- An SF-50 with a code of 8888 in Block 37 indicates you are excluded from representation by any federal union.
- This does not necessarily mean that an entire unit is exempt from Union representation. Because the position itself is covered, the duties of the position must be reviewed. A position might be in a unit which has Union representation but the position may be coded as 8888 because of an exemption. The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute identifies those positions that are excluded from a Bargaining Unit. See the list below for six (6) categories of Bargaining Unit exclusions:
- Management Officials
- Supervisors
- Confidential Employees (Only refers to those with direct access to Labor-Management Relations info)
- Employees engaged in Personnel Work
- Employees engaged in National Security activities
- Employees involved in Internal Audit functions
Block 37 Bargaining Unit Status: Any Other Number
You are not a NFFE-FSC Bargaining Unit Employee. You are not covered by the NFFE-FSC Master Agreement. You are a BUE of a different Union. Refer to the FS HRM website for more information.
