| Comment Number: | OL-10510759 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 11:50:07 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:
My concern is about the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) Regulation Act implementation and what this non-benefit change does to our federal retirement system for the average person. This NSPS change is supposed to provide flexibility in hiring, firing, & compensating civilian personnel. The Congressional Budget Office has once again released a series of budget-cutting options that in the federal employment realm mainly focus on the Federal Employees Health Benefits and retirement programs, which account for the lion's share of spending on federal employees outside of salaries. There has always been some type of war, assistance, or aid with other countries. There is no explanation of how union rights might deter on the Pentagon's and governments mission in the past. The NSPS eliminates any redress for decisions made on the basis of consideration other than merit. EEO and protection to employees is out, along with democracy. Our Nation is great, but this change deteriorates our greatness that our forefathers established. We set examples for others to follow. The implementation of NSPS needs to improve to correct and protect its workforce and lay a foundation that will protect and benefit all. The NSPS Act only protects management and allows them to have almost total control over the employees rights and pay by letting management keep the "Good ole Boy" program in effect and all the employees that work hard and put in long hours will not benefit from their efforts, what legal rights does an employee have against discrimination and EEO reprisals in the future? This "Good ole Boy" program is exactly why a normal hard working employee can not get the promotions and pay incentives that they deserve even when they have earned the right to get those incentives and to be promoted because of their skills, abilities, and extra hard effort as an experienced employee. Management will hire a Good ole Boy or Gal in the place of an experienced employee the majority of the time if at all possible and a lot of the time management will fill a position with a person that is providing favors to the Manager even though that person has a lot less experience than others and is less qualified. NSPS will allow managers that are a lot younger than their employees that are close to or are retirement age, to legally discriminate against the older employee that has given so many years of dedication to the Federal Government. It is simple to see that younger managers like that will only benefit other young employees that mangers want to be friends with especially because the younger managers feel there is such a large Generation Gap with the older employees. I am certain this so-called "pay for performance" NSPS system is a deceptive label to reduce pay and moral of all employees & others that aren't "Good ole Boys or Gals". The government is giving less incentive for people to stay on. It is hard enough working multiple programs, doing the work of 2 people and for all our efforts, we are paid with fewer benefits. This is not right! What incentive is there to hire talented people when managers can hire their friends & family? Our pays are not equal to private industry, but benefits were ok. Lacking in benefits does not increase longevity of service. Reducing benefits such as cost of living raises reduce contribution to TSP, cut base annuity, labor relations statutes and other retirement cost is morally wrong. Congress members only need to work a couple of years to earn retirement for life. The system needs to change for all federal employees, not just a selected few. This new NSPS system eliminates what little benefits we have. For these reasons, I oppose the implementation of NSPS and I urge you to act to instruct the Secretary of Defense to halt any further development of NSPS unless and until the Pentagon is willing to substantively address the issues raided by the United DOD Workers Coalition. Signed: James Jelinek