| Comment Number: | EM-019908 |
| Received: | 3/13/2005 12:14:33 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 13, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: I write to express my extreme disapointment and disgust 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 6 1/2 years as a civilian. I am angry that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country as the enemy. I did not give over 20 years of combined Federal service to this country to be treated this way! Now I know how veterans of Korea and Vietnam feel to be swept under America's carpet. Someone seems to be forgetting what DoD was formed for in the first place! Most DoD employees work hard and are committed. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt the agency?s mission. I am very upset by NSPS. This system will change the way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated. These rules would create a "click" 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? ?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 butt kissing of his or her manager. This system will force workers to back stab one another for pay raises, which will destroy teamwork and morale, increase conflict among employees, and reward short-term brown nosing. 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 favorites to work overtime. This new system 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 or a weapon for protection. 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. I have already given 16 years to the military. Today?s volunteer system works well. America is at war against terrorism! Wake up!!!. 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 to rethink how we squander this country's money in the name of politics. We need to take care of ourselves first! Or we might not remain as the Super Power for much longer. We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, preserve National Security, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers. Sincerely,