GovernmentExecutive.com

Homeland Security Department Secretary Michael Chertoff met with the leader of a major federal employee union Monday to discuss the department's controversial personnel reforms, among other issues.

National Treasury Employees Union president Colleen Kelley requested the meeting after a second court decision blocking DHS' personnel reforms. In early October, Judge Rosemary Collyer rejected the department's attempt to revise its personnel regulations, which she had previously ruled illegal.

Collyer, who sits on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said in both rulings that DHS' labor-management relations regulations went too far in limiting collective bargaining, primarily because they would have allowed department officials to override existing collective bargaining agreements at any time.

Kelley said she and Chertoff agreed not to publicly discuss the substance of their conversation so they could speak to each other candidly. She did, however, say they talked about the secretary's plans for personnel reforms. She also said she urged him to grant law enforcement status to Customs and Border Protection Officers.

The two discussed the One Face at the Border initiative as well. That initiative requires CBP inspectors to perform duties previously completed by immigration, customs and agriculture inspectors.

Kelley did not say if she made progress on any of the issues, although she did say that Chertoff was receptive, and that "it was very much a two-way conversation" that she hopes will lead to more discussions. She added that while the department's mid-November appeal of Collyer's decision shows its resolve, she believes there is still room for compromise.

"Clearly, they've appealed," Kelley said. "But for me that doesn't mean we shouldn't be continuing to talk and see if there's a way to frame something that is workable for everybody."

Kelley said representatives from the American Federation of Government Employees - NTEU's partner in the lawsuit and rival in an upcoming election for representation of all Customs and Border Protection employees - were invited to attend the meeting but could not due to a scheduling conflict.

The NTEU leader gave Chertoff a letter detailing her positions on the three issues discussed and said she expects a written response.

Top DHS officials also met with union officials in August, after Collyer's initial ruling.

COMMENTS

• Beware union members. When they start having private meetings, you are being sold down the river. Good luck. Charlie Posted November 22, 2005 6:06 PM
• This is a little progress-- that the NTEU national president and the Secretary of Homeland Security can have a sit-down meeting to discuss issues. It is too bad that the secretary's boss never had a real heart to heart with union leadership back in 2001 and was so gung-ho to end partnership before even making an attempt to dialogue with his employees' representatives. Meetings are good -- improved relationships are even better. And good consensus building products are best of all. HR Specialist GovExec.com reader Posted November 23, 2005 8:01 AM