Comment Number: OL-10509260
Received: 3/15/2005 2:02:44 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:

I am opposed to these proposed regulations, for so many reasons its hard to know where to begin.. But lets start with: LABOR RELATIONS: So much will now be non-negotiable, nothing will interfere with mgmt decisions, bargaining "after the fact"... These provisions make any statement you have about retaining union representation ludicrous. Just come out and say, There IS NO bargaining.. That would be closer to the truth. PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE: Sounds good... but it would only work in a perfect world In reality, it will degrade to a patronage system. The current system has flaws... every system does. THis new system has greater flaws than that being replaced. And why introduce competition between employees for pay raises? This fosters resentment, back-stabbing, self-promotion, information-hoarding, and detracts from any spirit of teamwork. WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY: Many are worried that the new regs allow mgmt to deploy you overseas.... change job locations.. (just come in and tell you to move to another state or quit.. Oh yeah, then negotiate about it afterwards) After all the stated goal is to move civilians into jobs currently being done by military personnel. ANd this will also allow managers to selectively harass emplyees they dont like, by constantly changin hiours,. working condtions etc... ( Oh yeah.. thats right, we negotiate about it afterwards.... if its negotiable that is) SUMMARY: There is NO DOUBT that these proposed regulations are an attack on the civilian employees in DOD. Despite what you are trying to portray, the truth is that employees will have FEWER RIGHTS and FEWER PROTECTIONS than we now enjoy. One of the stated goals of these regulations are to enhance the ability of the DOD to attract top-notch employees. If you think this will be done by removing employees protections, by creating a work environment where work assignments can be arbitrarily changed, people can be reassigned at will, even deployed overseas, and where people get raises by playing up to their managers... you are completely wrong. What you are doing is adopting the WORST principles of business. By the way, I am considered to be a top performer in my work area, and regularly receive awards. And there's no doubt I outperform others in my same pay grade. But I still do not want to introduce a patronage system, thinly disguised as "pay-for-performace" into my workplace. I am not putting my name to this communication.. for the sole reason, that after 15 years of government service, I am, for the first time... afraid to speak out. And it is perhaps this.... fear of being honest and open, which might be the first casualty of these proposed regulations.