[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 6, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46213-46214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21904]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 6, 1995 / 
Rules and Regulations  


[[Page 46213]]


OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AG53


Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Certain 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 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.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on September 6, 1995. 
Comments must be received by October 6, 1995. Employees paid rates from 
special wage schedules for printing positions in these areas will 
continue to to paid rates from those schedules until their conversion 
to the regular wage schedules for their respective wage areas effective 
on the first day of the first full pay period beginning on or after 
September 6, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant 
Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems Service, 
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 Los Angeles, San Diego, San 
Francisco, and Seattle-Everett-Tacoma Printing and Lithographic wage 
schedules 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 schedule 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.
    Los Angeles, California: Federal employment in printing and 
lithographic occupations in the Los Angeles wage area declined from 49 
in 1993 to a current total of 16 in 1995. The special printing and 
lithographic wage schedule for the Los Angeles wage area now applies to 
15 Defense Printing Service employees and 1 Department of Agriculture 
employee. The last full-scale survey involved the substantial work 
effort of contacting 72 printing establishments spread over Los Angeles 
County. Upon abolishment of the Los Angeles special printing schedule, 
three employees will become entitled to pay retention when converted to 
the regular wage schedule. The remaining 13 employees will benefit upon 
conversion by receiving higher regular wage rates.
    San Diego, California: Federal employment in printing and 
lithographic occupations in the San Diego wage area declined from 46 in 
1993 to a current total of 23 in 1995. The special printing and 
lithographic wage schedule for the San Diego wage area now applies to 
23 Defense Printing Service employees. The last full-scale survey 
involved the substantial work effort of contracting 65 printing 
establishments spread over San Diego County. Upon abolishment of the 
San Diego special printing schedule, six employees will become entitled 
to pay retention when converted to the regular wage schedule. The 
remaining 17 employees will benefit upon conversion by receiving higher 
regular wage rates.
    San Francisco, California: Federal employment in printing and 
lithographic occupations in the San Francisco wage area declined from 
55 in 1993 to a current total of 16 in 1995. The special printing and 
lithographic wage schedule for the San Francisco wage area now applies 
to seven General Services Administration employees, five Defense 
Printing Service employees, two National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration employees, one Department of Agriculture employee, and 
one United States Coast Guard employee. The last full-scale survey 
involved the substantial work effort of contacting 71 printing 
establishments spread over 8 counties in the San Francisco metropolitan 
area. Upon abolishment of the San Francisco special printing schedule, 
two employees will become entitled to pay retention when converted to 
the regular wage schedule. The remaining 14 employees will benefit upon 
conversion by receiving higher regular wage rates.
    Seattle-Everett-Tacoma, Washington: Federal employment in printing 
and lithographic occupations in the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma wage area 
declined from 45 in 1994 to a current total of 19 in 1995. The special 
printing and lithographic wage schedule for the Seattle-Everett-Tacoma 
wage area now applies to 11 Defense Printing Service employees and 8 
General Services Administration employees. The last full-scale survey 
involved the substantial work effort of contacting 100 printing 
establishments spread over 4 counties. Upon abolishment of the Seattle-
Everett-Tacoma special schedule, all 19 employees will benefit when 
converted to the regular wage schedule by receiving higher regular wage 
rates.
    Upon abolishment of these special printing schedules, the printing 
and lithographic employees will be converted to the regular schedule 
for their wage area on a grade-for-grade basis. Their new rate of pay 
will be set at the applicable step of the regular schedule that equates 
to the employees' existing scheduled rate of pay. When the existing 
rate falls between two steps, the employee's new rate will be set at 
the rate of the higher of those two steps. 

[[Page 46214]]
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 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 September 1995 wage 
surveys in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle-Everett-
Tacoma 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, paragraphs (j) (5) through (8) are removed.

[FR Doc. 95-21904 Filed 9-5-95; 8:45 am]
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