A letter Friday from POPA, the examiner's professional association, regarding the Flat Goal Pilot Program:

Yesterday afternoon, the agency served notice on POPA that it intends to implement the flat goal pilot program next Wednesday, November 22, 2006. Furthermore, the agency is attempting to strong-arm the union stating:

"Unless you limit your proposals in this bargaining to the procedures and appropriate arrangements in response to management's decision to implement a Flat Goal Pilot by next Wednesday, November 22, 2006, and agree in writing that you will not further claim that the entire topic is permissive, we will conclude that you have no interest in bargaining over these issues and will begin the implementation process for the pilot, based upon our last best offer."

Management has refused to bargain on almost every one of POPA's proposals on this subject and has misunderstood and/or mischaracterized our positions and proposals throughout these negotiations.

Even with the survey data that we made public in this most recent newsletter, management just doesn't get it that examiners do not want this program and that it will negatively impact the quality of examination at the USPTO and the retention of employees.

Or perhaps they just don't care.

POPA's flat goal negotiating team and I will be preparing an appropriate response to management's ultimatum during the next several days. While this pilot may look appealing to a few examiners with high examining time, it will be very detrimental to the the vast majority of the examining corps. In addition, while it might look good to some now, everyone needs to remember that an employee's circumstances can change very rapidly and significantly in time and then the nightmare of the flat goal will not be very enjoyable.

I was told by more than a few attendees that at the TC 1600 "State of the TC" meeting on November 16th, 2006 that John Doll asked all present who wanted to go on the "flat goal" program - NO ONE PUT UP THEIR HAND - except for one TC Director.