| Comment Number: | EM-017512 |
| Received: | 3/10/2005 6:18:33 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:
March 10, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: I have been a Federal civilian employee for 38 years with the US Army at Rock Island, IL. I helped form a Union bargaining unit in my organization, which is the US Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity, a high powered, highly educated workforce with great analytical skills. I object to the NSPS as it is now being proposed for the following reasons: 1. It has been formed without meaningful input by Unions, who are the exclusive representatives of the employees. The DOD met with Union representatives only as a face saving gesture to Congress, which directed DOD to consult with the Unions as a major player. As a result, the proposed NSPS is gutted of theprotections that Unions gained for the Federal workforce over tha past decades. Taking away the Federal Impassess Panel and other independent review and ruling bodies is the most severe blow to the fair treatment of the workforce. 2. The proposed pay bands represent a frozen pay system. The upper pay and lower pay levels in each band do not increase from one year to another to reflect the increase in the cost of living. For instance, under a pay banding system, the air traffic controllers at the top of their pay band get no pay increase that counts for their high three years used to calculate their retirement. They receive cash payments in lieu of the pay increase. This is exceedingly cruel to employees who have served their Country for many years, and who are obviously successful in their performance. 3. The current system has all of the controls and tools necessary for the successful management of Federal Employees and the accomplishment of the government mission. Managers are currrently not utilizing the tools available now. Is it to be expected that they will make any better use of the tools being proposed in the NSPS? In addition, the current system can be improved to make the hiring process easier and competitive with the private sector. The creation of GS scales for professional and other occupations would be easy to create, and to manage. Please do not approve the NSPS. Sincerely,