| Comment Number: | OL-10509860 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 7:46:42 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:
NFFE LOCAL 639 provides, as the “EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES,” the following comments on the Proposed NSPS Regulations—RIN 3206–AK76/0790–AH82 NFFE LOCAL 639 is officially recognized as the “Employee Representatives” for approximately 860 Bargaining Unit Employees employed by U.S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. Many of these employees are long term career employees nearing retirement, and others are very new to the federal work force. Consequently, all are seeing a proposed transformation from the long standing personnel system that they embraced when seeking employment, to one that is being forced upon and “jammed down their throats” under the guise of national security! Since when has the process of collective bargaining been a threat to national security? Collective bargaining opportunities, while retained in the proposed NSPS, will be greatly limited, with a resulting adverse consequence on our employees by reducing their opportunities for redress. While Union representation will be included with NSPS, it will in effect be at a level far below current levels which will have an adverse effect on our employees. Bargaining will be held to an absolute minimum such that there will be little opportunity in the workplace to bargain over management proposals. In many cases, bargaining allows relationships to be formed, and when both sides are willing to bargain from an interest based perspective, the results are often better for both sides which translate to a better product which in turn improves employee morale.