[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12033]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 95 / Wednesday, May 17, 1995 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 26341]]

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AG76


Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Atlanta, Georgia, Special 
Wage Schedules for Printing Positions

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim 
regulations to abolish the Federal Wage System special wage schedule 
for printing positions in the Atlanta, Georgia, wage area. Printing and 
lithographic employees in Atlanta will now be paid rates from the 
regular Atlanta, Georgia, wage schedule.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on May 17, 1995. Comments 
must be received by June 16, 1995. Employees paid rates from the 
Atlanta, Georgia, special wage schedule for printing positions will 
continue to be paid rates from that schedule until their conversion to 
the regular Atlanta, Georgia, wage schedule on July 9, 1995, the 
effective date of the new Atlanta, Georgia, regular wage schedule.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Acting 
Assistant Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems 
Service, 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 Atlanta, Georgia, Printing and 
Lithographic wage schedule be abolished and that the regular Atlanta, 
Georgia, wage schedule apply to printing employees in the Atlanta, 
Georgia, wage area. This recommendation was based on the fact that the 
number of employees paid from this special schedule has declined in 
recent years from a total of 38 employees in 1993 to a current total of 
25 employees, only 6 of whom are in grade levels benefiting from the 
special survey. The Atlanta, Georgia, special printing wage survey 
would produce special schedule rates lower than the regular area wage 
schedule rates for all but 6 of the 25 employees covered by the special 
printing schedule. Because regulations provide that the special 
printing schedule rates may not be lower than the regular schedule 
rates for an area, Atlanta, Georgia, special printing schedule rates 
for the first eight grades are currently based on the Atlanta, Georgia, 
regular wage schedule rates.
    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 last full-scale survey involved the substantial work 
effort of contacting 65 printing establishments spread over 15 counties 
in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
    Upon abolishment of the Atlanta special printing schedule, the 
printing and lithographic employees will be converted to the regular 
schedule on a grade-for-grade basis. Their new rate of pay will be set 
at the rate for the step of the applicable grade of the regular 
schedule that equals the employees' existing scheduled rate of pay. 
When the existing rate falls between two steps, the employees's new 
rate will be set at the rate for the higher of those two steps. This 
conversion does not constitute an equivalent increase for within-grade 
increase purposes. In accordance with the OPM Operating Manual, The 
Guide to Processing Personnel Actions, this pay plan change will be 
processed as a ``Pay Adjustment,'' Nature of Action Code 894, authority 
code ZLM, citing this Federal Register notice as authority. Pay 
retention provisions will apply for the few employees not receiving 
increases upon conversion.
    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 May 1995 Atlanta, 
Georgia, 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.

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)(9) are redesignated as paragraphs (j)(5) through 
(j)(8), respectively.

[FR Doc. 95-12033 Filed 5-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-M