| Comment Number: | OL-10506058 |
| Received: | 3/11/2005 10:54:35 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:
I am writing 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 am against the proposed NSPS. It is not fair to Civil Service employees working with the DoD and will take away or reduce many of the benefits we originally signed up for. There are three (3) main parts of the NSPS that I have problems with and they are as follows; 1. Subpart C Pay, Sections 9901.301 to 9901.373: I’m against the NSPS because it would take away same annual pay across-the-board adjustment for DoD employees that other GS/FWS workers receive. They call this “pay for performance” under the NSPS, but their not fooling anyone. This is their way of reducing their budgets. Each directorate will have alimited amount of dollars they can give out in performance promotions and most of the work force will be left out every year. 2. Subpart F Workforce Shaping - 9901.6012 to 9901.611: I’m against the NSPS because it would take away the advantage and consideration that a long term DoD employee should get from many years of valuable service in the event of a RIF/layoffs. This just allows managers to get rid of anyone, regardless of their years of faithful service, and if you do not tow the party line your gone. It will become a popularity contest previously known as the “good ole boy system”. 3. Subpart I Labor-Management Relations - 9901.901 to 9901.929: I’m against the NSPS because it would unfairly take away labor management laws that govern DoD employee’s rights. The union and collective bargaining rights should remain in place. There is no good reason to take them away except to hurt the rights of DoD employees. DoD has never liked having to deal with unions and would like them to go away. This is their way of saying the union has a seat in the room but no power at the table. We are not fooled. I served proudly in the Army for 20 years and after I retired I was thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to serve in civil service. But these regulations under the NSPS are an attack on workers’ basic rights. I urge you to force DoD to rethink this proposal. We need work rules that preserve fairness, serve the American people, and respect the rights of Defense Department workers.