Comment Number: OL-10506750
Received: 3/12/2005 8:14:25 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:

First, I take issue that the NSPS web page had a runtime error Thursday and Friday, it wouldnt allow my on line comment and that makes me believe that it is a ploy to detour additional comments from the public. The problem was not with my PC as I tried two different PCs using different internet connections. The public comment time should be extended as I believe that others were not allowed to submit thier comments also. The following are my comments on the NSPS. We write in opposition to the NSPS. The NSPS is costing the taxpayers lots of money and many hours of work that could be better used elsewhere such as to help fight the war on terror and support our troops that are in harms way; do not change a personnel system that is not broken.__ The civilian employees work side by side with the military and are not a threat to the US security. There should be no changes to the current pay system, the pay raises should go through and be approved by congress just as they have for many years. That is a fair and just process that eliminates the possibility of discrimination, favoritism and disparate treatment, which is all in the public’s best interest. To leave cost of living increases to first or second level supervisors is inviting discrimination, favoritism and disparate treatment of federal employees. The NSPS rules could cause employees to get no adjustments for the cost of living and never see a step increase because of a supervisors personal feelings towards an employee; these processes are not in the best interest of the American public and do not help fight the war on terror.__ The current federal employees should continue to have their rights and protections under Title 5; an agency appointed labor relations board is wrong and not very impartial. The processes in place with the MSPB, FSIP and the FLRA should not be disturbed so that there is an impartial third party to oversee compliance with the applicable laws. There is no reason to take away the collective bargaining rights of federal employees; there is noting in any of the established collective bargaining agreements throughout DoD that is a threat to national security. If an agency should be responsible for reasonable attorney fees if they are found to have committed an error with a wrongful adverse action; the MSPB should continue to be able to mitigate charges if the agency cannot substantiate all of its charges against an employee. To changes any of these systems are going to cause an increase of federal lawsuits as that will be the only way an employee will get a impartial decision.__ The RIF rules and procedures should not change; employee’s years of service and seniority should continue to be used to rank employees for a RIF. There are no reasons to remove veterans’ preference for any situation such as RIF and hiring.__ We oppose all of the NSPS changes that are proposed. Most of the current DoD employees are veterans and do not deserve to be treated in this manner of disrespect. The NSPS are not the rules that these employees accepted when they were hired and should not be the rules that they work under in the future. We ask that the DoD withdraw all of these proposed changes and use the personnel and resources to fight the war on terror.