Comment Number: OL-10506088
Received: 3/11/2005 11:23:33 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:

I am afraid that this system will strip away any of the few remaining rights that Civil Servants enjoy. First of all, it is hard enough to qualify for jobs with the government. Second of all, those that have a civil service job should be treated fairly. I understand, that in times of National Crises, that all personnel may be called upon to work as needed to support the mission. However, I see the NSPS as a way to intimidate personnel who might fear the loss of their jobs otherwise. I also understand that people should be paid fairly, according to the work that they do. In the current system, employees are graded and classified by the need of the organization..(ideally). However, there are multiple instances where positions are misclassified, and personnel are doing work well out of their scope, and not being paid appropriately for that effort. I don't see how setting paybanding as a means can ever change this. The same overworked classifiers will be having to deal with paybanding, that are currently working at classifying under the current system. And as everyone well knows, those overworked classifiers can take an awful long time getting someone classified and hired. The point is, changing the system here is going to fix it. You need to either simply the process, which NSPS is NOT doing, or hire more people to do the job. I don't see any benefits for the employees in this system. I see it as a means for the managers to further strip rights from the employees. Most managers in DoD use the good old boy/girl system, where when one of their buddies retires, they magically appear the next day as a GS-11 or higher. Not too bad, considering they retired as an E-6 with no degree. Yes, they may have specialized experience, and the manager is comfortable with them, but where is the fairness in that system? Even when these notices are announced, you’ll never get called for an interview, You’re NOT the hiring manager’s buddy! NSPS will only make it easier for this type of abuse to continue. I personally see the NSPS not as a benefit for me, the typical worker. I see it as a tool to make it easier for abuses to occur, and for workers that are not part of the "in" club to be passed over, and even terminated. I am not a disgruntled worker currently, but I could easily become that with this new system. I am pleased that we are allowed to voice our comments, but I feel that this effort is for naught. This is what will be forced upon us, and we will have no choice but to comply. Even though I am not eligible for Union membership, I have personally witnessed some of the abuses that happen if the Union were not able to step in and help defend covered bargaining unit members. I have seen gross injustices carried out while I have spent over 15 years as a civil servant. I have even been a recipient of unfair treatment. As a final note, from what I have expressed above, I see the NSPS as giving the Managers Carte Blanche to abuse, and play favorites. I agree with certain portions of the act, but I see that if an employee is not one of the supervisor's favorites, no matter how well they do their job, I forsee great miscarraiges of justice in the future. The bottom line is that supervisors will now be able to reward their favorite employees with out having to worry about any fallout whatsoever. That's what was so wrong with the old system that got changed.