| Comment Number: | EM-010807 |
| Received: | 3/8/2005 9:43:01 AM |
| 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:
March 8, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: 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. This message will be sent to both DoD and my representatives in Congress. I have worked for DoD for years. I am upset that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend, work, and support our country as the enemy. Most DoD employees work hard and are committed to doing a great job. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt the agency?s mission. I am not happy with the change that NSPS will enforce without the consideration of those that have worked many years and devoted their careers to the Government. This system will change the way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated. These rules would create a system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people. The "good-ole-buddy system" will soar to the top with those workers that do work hard being punished because they are not willing to get to the top by brown nosing rather than doing their job. 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. Also these awards were given to the favorites, not the workers that gave their heart and soul to the job through hard work and devotion to the job to make sure our customers very given the best service possible. 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? ?Friend of the Supervisor? Pay System With the new patronage pay system, which DoD calls ?pay for performance,? the amount of a worker's salary will depend almost completely on the personal judgment of his or her manager. 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. It will definately create a cut-throat type environment - we will become the "I" organization - there will be no team effort. 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. Civilian Deployment Federal employees could be assigned anywhere in the world, even into a war zone, with little or no notice. I am proud to serve my country but I am also responsible for caring for my family and my personal obligations at home. We signed up for a civilian job. We did not enlist in the military. Today?s volunteer system works well. If you send an individual into this situation that is not willing to be there, you are creating a very bad situation because that individual will not perform, will not be devoted to the mission, and will possible endanger those that are working with them or those they are to support. 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. I have devoted 28+ years to the Government. I came to work under the CSRS system and I consider that a contract and expect it to be honored until I retire. Changing the rules in the middle of one's career should not be allowed. If the Government wishes to impose a new system, it should be implemented when new workers come on board and that would be their contract. I thought this Country was based on a democracy, not a dictatorship. Our soldiers and other civilians are placing their lives on the line for in Iraq is to give those people a democratic goverment and to take away the dictator. So, why are we being placed under a dictatorship with this new system? If this system is to be implemented, it should be phased in with new employees that will be starting their careers in the future with the Government, not breaking the contract we started under. I work daily issuing contracts that last from 1-99 years. I can just image the lawsuits, not to mention a revolution by my customers, if I changed the terms and conditions agreed upon in that contract without their concurrence. This is how I relate my contract under the CSRS system I came to work under. I feel that if a new system is to be implemented, it should be the choice of the employee to change, not forced down the throats of those that may not want the new system. I hope our Government will continue the democratic system that is cherished by so many not just in this Country, but those worldwide that want it so bad they will place their lives on the line to obtain it. Remember the soldiers around the world that have given their lives to allow the democracy to work. Let it work here as well. Sincerely,