| Comment Number: | OL-10506404 |
| Received: | 3/11/2005 2:52:50 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:
Concerning the implementation of the new NSPS system planned for the U.S. Department of Defense workforce, I am compelled to write to you concerning this subject. I have worked for the U.S. Department of the Army for the past twenty years, and although it can be argued that the Civil Service Reform Act CSRA of 1978 is in need of some reform, my assessment is that the NSPS system as proposed will be harmful rather than beneficial to our country and to those who are federal DOD employees. I believe that this new system will eliminate current rights of workers by reducing, if not eliminating, collective bargaining abilities of the American Federation of Government Employees AFGE union. The union has been instrumental in the past in maintaining fair wages, cost of living adjustments and a civil, reasonable working climate for employees. Rhetoric contained in the NSPS literature is indicative of plans to eliminate collective bargaining rights, and to continue to blur the lines between military and civilian positions. I am certain that if not stopped, this new personnel system will increase the number of job categories where mandatory deployment in war zones is a condition of employment for civilians, as well as military personnel. It is difficult to imagine how such practices will assist the Government in obtaining and retaining 'the best and the brightest individuals', but instead seems more likely to discourage intelligent, motivated people from seeking Federal DOD employment. Under the current GS system, the union has the ability to represent employees who feel that they have been wrongfully treated. NSPS will basically render unions ineffective, and put employees at the mercy of political agendas, and the personal agenda of their management. I urge you to closely review the impact that NSPS will have on the DOD workforce and the Government functioning as a whole, and re-consider implementation.