Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Certain Special Wage Schedules for Printing Positions

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to

abolish the Federal Wage System special wage schedules for printing

positions in the Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; San

Francisco, California; and Seattle-Everett-Tacoma, Washington, wage

areas. Printing and lithographic employees in these wage areas will now

be paid rates from the regular wage schedule for their respective wage

area.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 26, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 6, 1995, OPM published an

interim rule to abolish the Federal Wage System special wage schedules

for printing positions in the Los Angeles, California; San Diego,

California; San Francisco, California; and Seattle-Everett-Tacoma,

Washington, wage areas. Printing and lithographic employees in these

wage areas will now be paid rates from the regular wage schedule for

their respective wage area.

The Department of Defense recommended to the Office of Personnel

Management that these special wage schedules for printing positions be

abolished and that the regular wage schedule for each area apply to

printing employees. Federal employment in printing and lithographic

occupations in these wage areas has declined in recent years. Only a

small number of employees are now paid from these special wage

schedules, and only a few of these employees actually benefit by being

paid from the special rather than the regular wage schedule. Most of

the covered employees are paid ``floor rates'' established under the 5

CFR 532.279 provision that no maximum rate on a special printing

schedule may be less than the maximum rate for the corresponding grade

on the regular wage schedule for the wage area. In addition, 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 interim rule provided a 30-day period for public comment. OPM

received no comments during the comment period. Therefore, the interim

rule is being adopted as a final rule.

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.

Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5343, the interim rule

amending 5 CFR part 532 published on September 6, 1995 (60 FR 46213),

is adopted as final without any changes.

Office of Personnel Management.

Lorraine A. Green,

Deputy Director.

[FR Doc. 95-28714 Filed 11-22-95; 8:45 am]

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