Check out this link: http://washingtonexaminer.com/watchdog/just-sign-here Search Word: FMCS, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Watchdog: Just Sign Here

A five-part series by the Washington Examiner watchdog team

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Bureaucrats at tiny federal agency FMCS buy legions of luxuries with purchase

cards BY LUKE ROSIAK | 10/01/13 12:11 PM

Part one of a five-part Washington Examiner series, "Just Sign Here: Federal Workers Max Out at Taxpayer Expense." See the entire series at this link. One federal employee leased a $53,000 take-home car with taxpayer money in apparent defiance of federal regulations and regularly billed the... Read More…

Reckless spending goes straight to the top at FMCS BY LUKE ROSIAK | 10/02/13 11:02 AM

Top officials of the FMCS lavished taxpayer funds on themselves, made the phantom company of a recently retired employee one of their largest vendors and spent tens of thousands of dollars on storage spaces near their homes. Part two of a five-part Washington Examiner series. Read More…

Check out this link: http://washingtonexaminer.com/watchdog/just-sign-here Search Word: FMCS, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

FMCS executives forced whistleblower to retract fraud complaint BY LUKE ROSIAK | 10/03/13 12:02 PM

FMCS employees' use of purchase cards amounted to rampant violation of federal procurement law, specialists say, and when an employee wrote to the GSA to ask for a compliance review, the agency director and another top official forced her to send a “retraction.” Part three of a five-part... Read More…

Federal officials cede power to contractors who write themselves sweetheart deals BY LUKE ROSIAK | 10/04/13 07:46 AM

Officials at theFMCS effectively ceded control to outside contractors who helped write their own contracts and became angry when asked to compete for work, according to official emails reviewed by the Washington Examiner. Part four of a five-part Washington Examiner series. Read More…

Wounded vet blew whistle on FMCS, rewarded with pink slip, harassment BY LUKE ROSIAK | 10/07/13 05:11 AM

Weeks after Tanya Pelcher-Herring told oversight bodies that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service was breaking federal contracting rules and wasting tax dollars, the agency terminated her employment for not reporting to work. Read More…

Statement from FMCS in response to the Examiner's questions

"These items which the Examiner is inquiring about appear to have been the subject of a now-settled employment dispute involving a disgruntled FMCS employee. These purchasing issues were addressed in the settlement, but must remain confidential under federal personnel rules, as noted, in the absence of a release from the employee.

"When FMCS became aware of this employee's concerns about the Agency's procurement practices, we took immediate actions. These actions included taking steps to ensure that the Agency's internal processes meet federal regulations. Additionally, we obtained a review by an outside, independent authority regarding FMCS procurements made over a period of years. We conducted a prompt and thorough investigation and a review of our own internal processes. With the settlement of the employment dispute, the conclusion of our own investigation and reviews by outside authorities, the allegations were dropped and outside authorities indicated they would t ake no further action."

Elements in this series

Check out this link: http://washingtonexaminer.com/watchdog/just-sign-here Search Word: FMCS, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service

Tuesday: Bureaucrats at tiny agency buy legions of luxuries with purchase cards

Wednesday: Reckless FMCS spending goes straight to the top

Thursday: FMCS heads forced whistleblower to retract fraud complaint

Friday: Federal officials cede authority to outsiders who write own contracts

Monday: FMCS fired whistleblower wounded vet after ICU stay

Got tips?

Do you know more about what's going on at the FMCS -- or any other federal agency? Contact Luke Rosiak at lrosiak@washingtonexaminer.com.

FEDERAL MEDIATION & CONCILIATION SERVICE SALARIES, 2012