| Comment Number: | OL-10504365 |
| Received: | 3/9/2005 10:43:16 AM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| Attachment: | ADVDEGREESBYTHESESASEDRAFT.doc Download Adobe Reader |
Comments:
From: Don Bracher, NAVSEA 07T312, General Engineer To: Mary Lacey, PEO NSPS Subj: National Security Personnel System, Comments on 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. I have worked for DoD for twenty-seven years both as enlisted and in civil service status. I am disappointed that these proposals seem to treat people who help defend our country as the enemy. Most DoD employees work hard and are very patriotic. I believe that mistreating the employees will hurt NAVSEA’s mission. NSPS CREATES PROFOUND CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS: NSPS 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. Annual Pay Raises Under the General Schedule, 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 distributed fairly 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. There is no guarantee that even the best workers will receive a pay raise or that the pay offered will be fair or competitive. NSPS 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. 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. America is at war. We are fighting for democracy abroad. But the regulations are an attack on workers’ basic rights with profound constitutional questions. Furthermore, NSPS will divert the attention of defense workers from the Sailors’ welfare to protecting themselves from abuse on the job. I urge all to rethink this proposal. We have work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers. We currently work an advanced concept to educate the workforce which has been endorsed by the NAVSEA Middle Management Council and I attach as working papers for your review: Everyone in a degree program with professors visiting the workplace working on Navy problems in Engineering Cohorts etc. Thank you very much for your good work! Regards, Don Bracher, (202)781-1185