[Federal Register: May 17, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 95)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 26341] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17my95-1] ======================================================================== Rules and Regulations Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each week. ======================================================================== [[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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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