60,000 Defense dept employees shifting - less bargaining power

[The Straight Story]

Defense unveils first group of employees to shift to new personnel system

By David McGlinchey
[e-mail]

Approximately 60,000 Defense Department civilian employees will shift to the new National Security Personnel System during the first phase of its launch, which is scheduled for the summer of 2005, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

Navy Secretary Gordon England, who is heading up the NSPS effort, also announced that a new NSPS labor relations system will be implemented across the department at that time.

The 2004 National Defense Authorization Act gave the Pentagon the authority to dramatically overhaul its personnel system. Those changes are expected to include a performance pay system and reduced collective bargaining powers for labor unions. Pentagon leaders also indicated they wanted to streamline the department's appeals process.

The first phase of the deployment of the new system--dubbed "Spiral One" - is scheduled to begin as early as July 2005. It will include 60,000 employees. The next two waves will follow within 18 months.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1204/121504d1.htm

[EC]

1. My "unions are bad" boss today

Surprised me by saying that the Unions in America should get themselves together and start protecting the worker again, or this country is in trouble. He had no answer though when I asked him why for such a long time he was against unions and now all of a sudden he sees the light, now that most of the unions are broken or defunct.

edit: This is exactly what Max Cleland was fighting against with the Homeland Security bill...assholes

[Supersedeas]

2. the continuing mutation of the oligarchy.