Comment Number: EM-023209
Received: 3/16/2005 11:58:33 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 16, 2005 DoD NSPS Comments , DoD NSPS Comments: I am writing to express my concerns about changes to work rules in the Department of Defense (DoD). I have read the proposed regulations, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) that 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 Seventeen years as DOD employee. I am angry that these proposals seem to treat the employees who help defend our country we are not the enemy or terrorist as we have been portrait lately. We are loyal employees and citizens, that when we are call to help we are there. Most DoD employees are hard workers and committed. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt any agency?s mission. I am very upset by NSPS, I keep hearing that there where town meetings I have ask around an no one seem to know where they where held here in San Diego, CA. I know that if I had been told where those meetings where held believe me I would had been and gave my input. This system will change the way we the workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated. Currently there is very little advancement in Government due to contracting out, base closures, and writing position descriptions for military personnel and contractors that are currently holding billets and bringing them as civil services employees as soon as the position are announced. Yes, they compete for the position and are found the best qualify person due to the fact that they where performing the job and of course would have all the experience of the world or when certain supervisor say I want this person for this job and that particular person gets the job. Can you tell me where the fairness in this process is? As a Woman, Hispanic and Labor Activist (Chief Union Steward) it has been hard to move up due to the fact that I have three strikes against me. As a chief union steward I continue to ensure that my agency treats employees with respect, dignity, good working conditions and that there rights do not get violated according to the Collective Bargain Agreement. We still have several individuals in the work force that choose to apply stereotypes and still believe that a person who speaks with an accent should not hold a government position or that person is not qualify for a position. Some individuals go as far as saying that if there would given the chance they would not have hired that particular employee. Where is the fairness and equality? I saw some OPM recommendations in order to increase Hispanics in the work place and mentors programs in order to be able to move up, have the same statistical numbers that other groups have and be able to compete for jobs. I have seen the proposals, but that?s all just proposal, beautiful letters and memos with no action taken. OPM tries to provide recommendations some get implemented some just are there in limbo. There is no one who really is hold accountable to ensure that those recommendation are follow up in a timely manner. Yes, there is some Hispanic that has been able to move up but not every one has been given the chance, opportunity and the tools to do it. Again where is the fairness in this process? Know DoD employees have been target to change the whole Civil Service Reform Act to my knowledge no one has provided written proof that this part has work this part has not work base on... So who can you really say that NSPS is the solution? Know this administration is ready to implement NSPS these rules would create a system in which federal managers are influenced by favoritism rather than serving the civil concerns of the American people, we got read of the EEO preference due to the fact that every American person would be treated equal. I would urge to talk to employees who work in the front lines and are in position General Schedule 1 through 7 for years and see that with every vacancy fill by somebody else there dream of making a little more money keeps sliding away. We may need a better process on hiring, promoting, discipline I think we can accomplish this by involving the employees who own the process and providing them with the opportunity to be able to comment and provide feedback not just impose a new law by a hire ups who never has been on the front lines providing customer service to the public and barley make it on the salary assign, but continue every day and performing the job due to the fact that employee is loyal to this country and has a good sense of patriotism. If in did this is a great law why not test it with the people who approve it Congress and the House of representatives and see if this is such a good idea, and see how would affect you personally. I urge to please think about it very careful you have in your hands the future of every person, how well that person would be treated no matter what race, nationality and sex the person is. Think about new generations growing up with no sense of loyalty or cooperation as a group other what is the best for me. What morals and values are we passing to our new generations? It is very scary to think that we have come so far and that people gave there life to ensure we have better working conditions and know every person who sacrifice there life we just saying to those years of hard work and dedications oh well we need changes. I believe that when you change something should be to be able to improve the quality of leaving or standards not to destroy them. Sincerely,