Comment Number: EM-017382
Received: 3/11/2005 10:29:54 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:

I am writing to you because of my concern about the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) scheduled for implementation for the employees of the Department of Defense over the next year. I totally disagree with the proposed NSPS legislation. This so-called "pay for performance" system is just a tool that will allow management to do as they please with regard to employees, while employees will have no recourse. This is unbalanced in favor of management. More employee rights need to be added. Various government agencies have been testing performance pay systems for more than 20 years and invariably, the results have been that the majority of workers feel cheated when advancement, promotion and pay decisions are given over to the sole discretion of a supervisor. The process typically reduces salaries and morale. It is too autocratic and eliminates any redress for decisions made on the basis of considerations other than merit. All bargaining rules and regulations will be tossed out and current negotiated contracts will be ruled null and void. NSPS removes all protection to our workers, including seniority rights, Veteran's preference and discrimination protections from Civil Service. NSPS under the guise of "National Security" will result in more government jobs being contracted out to private companies. It is taking us back to the time before civil rights became law. I oppose the implementation of NSPS and I urge you to act to instruct the Secretary of Defense to halt any further development of NSPS unless and until the Pentagon is willing to substantively address the issues raised by the people and the Federal Labor Unions. I have been a loyal and hardworking Civil Service employee for the DoD for 25 years. I work in an Acquisition Department as a Contracting Officer and take great pride in my work supporting the troops. It seems that the DoD workforce is always singled out as the ones to suffer when the Government wants to save money. Civil Service workers have been supporting the troops for decades. Civil Service workers have traveled throughout the world in support of our military personnel and actions. The Civil Service workforce is tried and true! Why would you want to take away all my rights and privileges earned over the years. The DOD Workforce is not the problem but rather the people controlling our money and making the decisions about us are the problem. I deserve better treatment than this. I earned it! If it were not for trusted workers such as myself, the ships and their sailors would not be as safe as they are. It is our workforce that comprises the backbone of our National Security. Someone of your importance should be the first to recognize this fact and support our workers. Not treat them as if they were the enemy! It is against the will of the people that this program is being implemented. v/r