| Comment Number: | EM-001235 |
| Received: | 2/22/2005 3:06:34 PM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
February 22, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: I am writing on my own behalf and will be adding a few sentences to the already drafted letter from AFGE. I write to express my concerns about changes to work rules in the Department of Defense (DoD). The proposed regulations, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), were printed in the Federal Register on February 14, 2005. I have worked for DoD for almost 5 years and was on Active Duty in the Army for over 8 years. I am disappointed to say the least in my government that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country as the enemy. I have read the proposed federal register cover to cover twice now, and for the life of me can't understand how the American Governemnt which I helped defend as a Soldier and now help support as a DoD Employee can change rules, policies and procedures the way they are trying to with NSPS. The changes to pay, appeals, collective bargaining and everything else in this register in my opinion have no visible effect on National Security the way it is being depicted. Yes, the system we are currently under is antiquated, but has been in place for many, many years. The fact the country has a deficit is not soley the responsibility of the Federal employee. The government, the management and the politicians who make these decisions need to be responsible for their own actions. Protecting workers rights, the appeals procedures that are in place, the pay systems that are in place are there for a reason. They are needed. Giving DoD, Carte Blanche authority to waive premium pay, enact pay banding, enact pay for performance, have the authority to override initial MSPB AJ decisions on apeal cases, lowering response times for appeals, so on and so on. I could go on and on from what I read in the actual register, this was not Union material, this was the actual Federal Register received on line at Tinker AFB, Ok. This system again, has nothing to do with National Security. If National Security were the main topic, then why are more and more outisde contractors, from Boeing, Pratt&Whitney on down the line receiving more work from the government thru outsourcing. Am I to believe that an outside contractor has the best interest of the Government in mind when they are placing bids at millinos and even billions for contracts they are awarded, certainly not. There is no one that I speak to that feels any differently. Government employees are being placed under all these rules and "new" policies while we sit back and watch outside agencies take over Government jobs at a higher cost. But yet this new personnel system is called the National Secuirty Pay System. So how does giving more work to outisde sources protect the government? When I received my medical discharge from the Army in 1998, I assumed that a job for the federal government was safe and would always hold the same high standard of conduct and polices, be committed to looking out not only in the best interest of our great country but its employees also, all of its employees. This new system has me losing faith in the freedoms I love and would have been willing to die for while on Active duty. The constraints that are going to be placed on Federal employees under this new "Security" system give federal employees less benefits more restrictions than ever before. As I stated, this does not make me mad, it makes me sad to feel that this is the way that DoD is willing to treat its fellow employees to help reduce the largest deficit in American history. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt the agency?s mission. These rules would create a system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people. Annual Pay Raises Under the General Schedule and FWS, employee pay was clear. It was funded by Congress and could not be taken away. However, NSPS will take away this certainty. Salaries and bonuses are funded by DoD. In the past ? as recently as just last year ? DoD did not fund its awards program. Given the agency?s miserable record on this issue, how can employees feel confident that our salaries and bonuses will be funded in the future? This system will force workers to compete with one another for pay raises, which will destroy teamwork, increase conflict among employees, and reward short-term outcomes. There is no guarantee that even the best workers will receive a pay raise or that the pay offered will be fair or competitive. This system will create a situation in which workers are in conflict with one another and afraid to speak out about harassment, violations of the law, and workplace safety problems. Furthermore, there will be no impartial appeal system to assure that everyone is treated fairly. Schedules and Overtime NSPS will allow managers to schedule employees to work without sufficient advance notice of schedule changes. This will make it extremely difficult for working parents to care for their children and family. It will also mean that abusive managers could harass employees with bad schedules or short notice. Overtime rotations can be canceled, which means that employees may not be able to plan adequately for childcare and other important responsibilities. America is at war. We are fighting for democracy abroad. But the regulations are an attack on workers? basic rights. Furthermore, NSPS will divert the attention of defense workers from the soldiers? welfare to protecting themselves from abuse on the job. I urge you to force DoD to rethink this proposal. We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers. Sincerely,