| Comment Number: | OL-10511447 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 3:32:04 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:
Early on, the document speaks of Union involvement on the ground floor for designing this management plan. As a GS14 with 16 years experience, I can't tell you how many times that Union protection of employees saved my agency from serious mis-management decisions. Not that protection procedures are sometimes misused by a few employees and take time but, by far, in the long run, our agency runs much better when employees issues are heard by outside, objective mediators. I've seen different offices run in the way that the proposed regulations provide. I assure you that under these types of rules, managers have consistently begun to operate as omniscient dictators driving away talent and commitment. My counsel is that only by having the Union as a co-author and co-manager will DOD run efficiently and effectively in the long term. To use a legal analogy, you don't throw out case law just because you are living under new circumstances. There are countless reasons why Civil Service developed the way it did. The Union can be a pain in the neck, but it also knows where the pitfalls are and can become a very constructive partner in shaping an efficient, fast acting operation.