MESA Union Home Page.

The Marshall Engineers and Scientists Association (MESA) is the collective bargaining representative of engineers and scientists employed by the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC).

New Employee Orientation


The person is YOU. The wheel is NASA	If this happens to you. MESA can Help!

New Asbestos Caused Cancer Websites

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. When inhaled, asbestos fibers become lodged in the lining of the lungs where scar tissue later develops into cancerous tumors.

Occupational exposure is the leading cause of asbestos inhalation. The dangers of asbestos have been known for decades, but industries hid information and did nothing to protect their workers. Even the Government played a role in the cover up. People from all walks of life were victimized and unknowingly exposed to benefit profit seeking asbestos companies.

Many hard working Americans now suffer from this terrible disease and are left with little or no money to provide for their families. Two new websites provide comprehensive resources with specific information to help the afflicted when they don’t know where to turn.

http://www.mesothelioma.org

http://www.mesothelioma.com

Come Back, All Is Forgiven! (OPM Suggests Retirement Reforms)

Projections show that about 60 percent of federal workers will be elgible for retirement over the next 10 years. Often, NASA employees retire and immediately find jobs in the private sector. The question is being asked, "Why can't NASA hire back the retirees?" OPM is hoping to address this problem by proposing the following reforms to Congress.

Authorize federal agencies to bring back retired federal workers on a limited basis and let them retain their pension and draw a full salary. Currently, retirees have their salaries reduced by the amount of their guaranteed pension payment.
Revamp the pension formula involving part-time work by people near the end of their federal careers who are covered by the old Civil Service Retirement System. Some retirees have contended that the formula, which involves a computation of their average salary, unfairly leads to a pension reduction.
Allow federal employees to invest their bonuses in the Thrift Savings Plan, the 401 (k) -type program that the vast majority of government workers use to save for retirement.

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Bonus For Conversion from Perm to Term (Keyword "Incentives" for "Workforce Flexibilities")

Michael Griffin has asked a congressman for legislation to allow "permanent" employees to accept incentives to move from permanent to term appointments.

As an example for the need for such a flexibility, in 2010 NASA will need to get rid of people currently working on Shuttle who are much needed now. A bill proposed would give 25% of salary or $25,000 which ever is less, for every year that goes by. Terms can be terminated easier than permanent employees after their "term" runs out. As an example of an incentive, if a shuttle worker signed up today (19 April 2007) then the incentive would be $25,000 * 3 or $ 75,000. This could really make sense for a permanent employee who is nearing retirement.

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MSFC Announcements and Operational Status

MSFC Announcements and Operational Status: (256) 544-6262(check this recorded message during adverse weather conditions, U.S. Budget negotiations and/or agency-wide furloughs only as needed.)