[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 19, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 79305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32284]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 19, 2000 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 79305]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AJ24
Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of the St. Louis, MO,
Special Wage Schedule for Printing Positions
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule
that will abolish the St. Louis, MO, Federal Wage System (FWS) special
wage schedule for printing positions. Printing and lithographic
employees in the St. Louis wage area will now be paid from the regular
St. Louis appropriated fund FWS wage area schedule. This change is
necessary because there are no longer enough printing and lithographic
employees in the wage area to conduct the local special wage survey
successfully.
DATES: Effective Date: This regulation is effective on January 18,
2001. Applicability Date: Agencies will place employees who are paid
from the St. Louis special wage schedule on the St. Louis regular wage
schedule on December 17, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chenty I. Carpenter at (202) 606-8359;
by FAX at (202) 606-4264; or by email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 14, 2000, the Office of
Personnel Management published an interim rule (65 FR 55431) to abolish
the St. Louis, MO, Federal Wage System (FWS) special wage schedule for
printing positions. The interim rule had a 30-day period for comment,
during which we received no comments.
The Department of Defense (DOD) recommended that we abolish this
special wage schedule because it has become extremely difficult for DOD
to release adequate numbers of employees to conduct the local special
wage survey successfully. The number of printing and lithographic
employees in the wage area has declined from about 225 employees in
1985 to about 17 employees currently. These employees work in various
locations throughout the St. Louis wage area. Twelve of these employees
work for the Defense Logistics Agency, four work for the Department of
the Army, and one works for the National Guard Bureau. DOD has found it
increasingly difficult to comply with the requirement that employees
paid from the special printing schedule participate in the local
special wage survey process. The decline in employment is expected to
continue until there are no longer any printing and lithographic
employees in the wage area.
Printing and lithographic employees will convert to the St. Louis
FWS regular wage schedule on a grade-for-grade basis. Each employee's
new rate of pay will be set at the step rate for the applicable grade
of the regular wage schedule that equals the employee's existing rate
of pay. If an employee's existing pay rate falls between two steps on
the regular schedule, the new rate will be set at the higher of the two
steps. If an employee's existing pay rate is higher than the highest
rate for his or her grade on the regular schedule, the employee will,
if otherwise eligible, be entitled to pay retention. The Federal
Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-management
committee that advises OPM on FWS pay matters, reviewed and concurred
by consensus with this change.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities because it will affect
only Federal agencies and employees.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 532
Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information,
Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.
Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5343, the interim rule
(65 FR 55431) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on September 14, 2000,
is adopted as final with no changes.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
[FR Doc. 00-32284 Filed 12-18-00; 8:45 am]
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