Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of New York, New York, Special Wage Schedules for Printing Positions

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AG53

Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of New York, New York,

Special Wage Schedules for Printing Positions

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim

regulations to abolish the Federal Wage System special wage schedule

for printing positions in the New York, New York, wage area. Printing

and lithographic employees in New York, New York, will now be paid

rates from the regular New York, New York, wage schedule.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on January 27, 1995.

Comments must be received by February 27, 1995. Employees paid rates

from the New York, New York, special wage schedule for printing

positions will continue to be paid from that schedule until their

conversion to the regular New York, New York, wage schedule effective

on the first day of the first full pay period beginning on or after

January 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant

Director for Compensation Policy, Personnel Systems and Oversight

Group, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E Street

NW., Washington, DC 20415.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense recommended to the

Office of Personnel Management that the New York, New York, Printing

and Lithographic wage schedule be abolished and that the regular New

York, New York, wage schedule apply to printing employees in the New

York, New York, wage area. This recommendation was based on the fact

that the New York, New York, special printing wage survey would produce

special schedule rates lower than the regular area wage schedule rates

for all but one grade level, XS-7. Because regulations provide that the

special printing schedule rates may not be lower than the regular

schedule rates for an area, New York, New York, special printing

schedule rates for all grades but XS-7 are currently based on the New

York, New York, regular wage schedule rates. The number of employees

paid from this special schedule has declined in recent years from a

total of 80 employees in 1985 to a current total of 18 employees, only

1 of whom is in grade XS-7.

With the reduced number of employees, it has been difficult to

comply with the requirement that workers paid from the special printing

schedule participate in the special wage survey process. The last full-

scale survey involved the substantial work effort of contacting 103

printing establishments spread over 19 counties.

No employee's wage rate will be reduced upon conversion to the

regular schedule. Because of the effects of pay cap provisions and the

fact that the special printing schedule rates are based upon payable

(restricted) regular schedule rates, the 17 employees paid rates based

on the regular wage schedule will receive higher wage rates upon

conversion. The one employee in grade XS-7 who currently receives the

higher, printing survey-based rate will be entitled to continue at that

rate under pay retention rules.

The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee has reviewed this

recommendation and by consensus has recommended approval.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists

for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also, pursuant

to section 553(d)(3) of title 5, United States Code, I find that good

cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days. The

notice is being waived and the regulation is being made effective in

less than 30 days because preparations for the January 1995 New York,

New York, survey must begin immediately.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

I certify that these regulations will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they

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.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Lorraine A. Green,

Deputy Director.

Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS

1. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as

follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; Sec. 532.707 also issued under 5

U.S.C. 552.

Sec. 532.279 [Amended]

2. In Sec. 532.279, paragraph (j)(5) is removed, and paragraphs

(j)(6) through (j)(10) are redesignated as paragraphs (j)(5) through

(j)(9), respectively.

[FR Doc. 95-2014 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6325-01-M