GovernmentExecutive.com

Hundreds of union members gathered near the Capitol on Tuesday to protest new personnel regulations in the Defense and Homeland Security departments.

Protesters decried the changes to the collective bargaining system and the replacement of the General Schedule with a pay-for-performance system they say is unfair. The unions argued that these changes will result in less pay, the elimination of whistleblower protections and lowered worker morale.

The systems in question are the proposed National Security Personnel System at the Defense Department and projected rules to be implemented Aug. 1 at DHS.

Among the speakers at the rally was House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Speaking over chants of "Steny! Steny!" Hoyer talked about the potential for unfair favoritism in the proposed pay-for-performance system.

"We want a civil service based on merit," Hoyer said, "not on whose coffers you contributed to, not on the whim of whoever happens to be a political appointee at the time."

The speakers also focused on equality between civil service workers and military personnel, both in their importance and treatment.

"Taxpayers should be outraged," said John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which helped organize the rally. "The same courageous Americans, who protect our homeland, support our troops and care for our veterans, are being insulted and slapped around by the federal government."

Federal workers from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Maine, Florida and many other states traveled to Washington to attend the rally, which included members from AFGE, the United DoD Workers Coalition and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

David Owens, president of AFGE Local 1101, traveled from Alaska for the event. Owens works on Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage.

"I gave up fishing this weekend to get here," Owens said. "Government employees have less rights under NSPS than people who work for Wal-Mart. You can't complain if your boss cuts your wage by 10 percent."

Owens said he and his union members also are worried about lack of due process, a loss of seniority rights and unwanted deployments. "I'm talking anything," Owens said. "We've been dealing with management for a lot of years, we know what's coming."

Speakers stood beneath a banner that read "Public Employees Stand Up For A Secure America," and the crowd was peppered with signs that said "Rumsfeld Unfair to Federal Employees" and "NSPS" with a red line through it. Heat and humidity forced many of the protesters into the shade on the sidelines.

A number of congressmen were on hand to speak at the rally. In addition to Hoyer, Reps. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.; Walter Jones, R-N.C.; and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., attended.

"I'm a conservative Republican," Jones said. "NSPS will not work. We will demand hearings on this issue."

In response to the rally, Homeland Security spokesman Larry Orluski said, "This is America, and everyone has the First Amendment right to assemble, and that's what they've done."

COMMENTS

• I hope the comments made by Rick will make your blood boil. My mother told me to forgive people who are mentally challenged. The NSPS is designed for three things: Deplete the unions of financial funds, make people quit or get fired before vesting, and break the back of the civil service system. It may be true a cheaper younger hot shot performer may be rewarded at the expense of us more expensive (higher steps, higher annual leave and more retirement benefits we earned) but who will pick the pieces when they burn out (presumably before they are vested)? The contractors, that’s who. Tell the party that brought us NSPS and tried do away with Social Security and FLSA -- oh let’s not forget Operation Offset (higher taxing FERS and high five) -- that it may look for another job next election. Give it the high five!!! OIF Civillan Veteran Posted January 14, 2006 12:03 AM
• As I walked to the gallows I wondered why I never saw them being built. It then occurred to me as the noose was slipped around my neck that the system that judged me was unfair. And as the trap door swung open and I dropped, in that fleeting second I wondered how the law ever passed that made me guilty of exercising my rights as an American worker. But by then it was too late. That trap door is about to swing open. Quit arguing and act - before it really is too late. Mark Gibson Posted July 18, 2005 7:42 AM
• I am not a union member, but I do recall when I first read about the NSPS, trying to contact a Union representative to contribute funds to ensure that the collective voice of the people could be heard. I do recall the Union making radio and TV advertisements, trying to at least inform DOD workers and solicit them to contact their congressmen and women and urge them to not approve the Defense Transformation bill. The sad thing about all of this, is that even after NSPS became a fact, probably half of the defense workers did not know, and still do not know what is about to happen to their fair labor rights. Personally, I appreciate the Union at least trying to present a collective voice for DOD and DHS personnel. Gosh knows the 100,000 letters written to OPM during proposed NSPS review period have had no consideration standing on their own merit. GovExec.com reader Posted July 14, 2005 3:46 PM