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Return to Article: Pentagon's personnel system still a 'go' despite DHS ruling

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  As a concerned voter and taxpayer I am concerned about how you are dealing with contract labor with the Department of Defense. I am concerned about the contractors currently employed at military bases. I would like to know how they are going to be paid. Are they going to be paid from general worker's pay pool, because you only have contractors at the working shops because they are associated with the upper management either through friendship, family, or a relationship with them.

  This is not right or fair and balanced. If you need to cut money, you need to deal with contractors first instead of looking at the civilian workforce, because this will create friction in the workplace. This is because you are paying contractors to sit around and do nothing just because of their position with management, and management has used up the money that should have gone to the civil servants to pay contractors. What are you going to tell the federal employees and the American taxpayers?

  Please respond to my concerns.

  Sam Dawson Posted November 3, 2005 9:25 AM
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  No Greg- that is the definition of insanity, repeating the same action over and over again expecting different results. The definition of stupidity involves believing you can bring Democracy to groups of warring clans and getting caught in the crossfire. No-on second thought that falls under insanity as well.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 26, 2005 8:07 AM
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  What is the true definition of stupidity? Repeating the same actions over and over again expecting a diffrent result. When will DOD wake up and smell the coffee. Somebody should tell them they already had the right to hire and fire, Apparently "Duke Rumsfeld" and "King George" didn't bother to look at that part. Its the fault of lazy managers and incompetant promotions of the golf buddy rather the qualifications of good individuals that have caused the system we have today. If DOD has a complaint with the workers then they are treating a syptom not killing the virus. The problem lies with bad management that has sat on thier laurels for years, promoting not due to qualifications but because of a "good ole boy" system. Now these "managers" have to do more with less because of downsizing and low and behold they are unable to cope. Anyone can run a "fat" organization where you have a 30 to 40 percent overhire status. Now that government has to be accountable and show savings..... You reap what you sow is appropriate i beleive. You have people incapable of running their organizations as they have never had to be a real manager. So DOD invents NSPS.... What are they truly trying to heal? NSPS is the mangement placebo to mask many of its own inadequacies when it comes to properly running a leaner organization and to hiring and firing practices.

  Greg DeMott Posted August 22, 2005 1:45 PM
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  The Federal Judge could have found all of DHS and NSPS illegal/unlawful and OPM/Rummy/Bush would still go with their plan. If they are willing to violate the law (even before implementation) what do you think will happen after it's in place? One of the President's biggest gripes is "accountability", I guess only the worker bees have to be accountable because the high ranking gov employees (officials) can do whatever they want while thumbing their noses at a Judge's rulings. What's happening to our system of justice? Is this a democracy or a "monarchy"?

  Gil in Tex

  Gilbert Hernandez Posted August 18, 2005 2:35 PM
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  I keep saying this until someone realizes that we need to impeach bush and fire rummy. If we don't do something we will all be living in the streets. This will not be America it will be whatever bush, rummy and the illegals want to name it. STOP THEM NOW!!!!

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 18, 2005 1:53 PM
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  Now is the time to stand up on top of your desks and shout out to make sure all your fellow co-workers are aware of this disgraceful action by our DoD employer. For the many that have been apathetic to NSPS shove this article in their face and let them see the light for what it really is. If this doesn't alarm them then nothing will apparently. For DoD to ignore the courts ruling only reaffirms their desperate attempt to implement these unconstitutional rules to be used directly against each and every one of us. No other reason!

  Two things can happen. The decision to stop NSPS can be decided with another court ruling (that judge may see no problem with NSPS and NSPS is implemented) or starting today, everyone can put your congressmen and senators on the spot and make them fully responsible from this point on. They allowed this to happen and now it is time to demand from them the question "Are you going to allow DoD to take away my constitutional rights by allowing NSPS to move forward?" This could be the last punch we can give to insuring a fair system is implemented so lets make our elected officials stop it before it goes to the courts.

  What is so ironic is DHS started this whole new personnel movement and now they have been told by the courts to stand-down, get real, and try again. DoD, on the other hand, has mirrored the DHS personnel HR plan and even has put forth even stricter rules than DHS impinging upon our title 5 rights to insure they can eliminate personnel at will without any challenge or recourse. This will be accomplished through the revamping of RIF procedures which leave each of us totally defenseless. Even DHS retained the original RIF rules. (If you haven't read the proposed RIF procedures I suggest you do. In my opinion they are the most alarming changes which paints the picture for what DoD's overall intent really is. Use you, and then lose you at will.)

  This could really be your last chance to make a difference. A court ruling has been made. Now shove that ruling in your representatives' faces and demand that they take immediate action to stop DoD's plans to move forward with NSPS and go back to the negotiation table and create fairer rules.

  Kenny J. Posted August 17, 2005 10:41 PM
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  Amazing. The unions don't want this system. The opposition amongst thinking worker bees in the Govt. has been overwhelming. In fact, anybody that has done the math wouldn't want NSPS. Now its been ruled illegal by a court of law. But that doesn't stop Gordon, Mary or Rummy.

  Is this what they call determination??

  Ex-DoD

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 17, 2005 2:11 PM
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  There you go folks, the judge gave fair warning that the personnel system is illegal. And what happens, old Rummy is going ahead anyway. If you have not gotten the message yet here is the one to let you know the Secretary of Defense has no regard for the law of the land.

  Let the law suits begin.

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 17, 2005 7:13 AM
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  I like both previous comments but unfortunately DHS is still doomed. No way can one ethical judge stand up to this administration. While voicing your concerns here is a good place to begin; we ALL need to inundate our Senators with our concerns. This is Big Brother Bully Government totally out of hand. DoD sounds much like DHS with the Kings and Queens and they have procreated too many princes and princesses too !! Let them eat cake !

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 17, 2005 6:41 AM
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  Ms. Lacey could be the next Alfred E. Newman "What? Me worry..."

  GovExec.com reader Posted August 17, 2005 5:42 AM
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  When you get pushed too far, you have to push back 10 times harder! That's what our founding fathers did against England's King George III. Now we're facing our own King George. If these actions go through then we will know that this country is no longer a democracy. Just like the eminent domain decision. AFGE and NFFE unions PLEASE support us against these immoral and illegal actions.

  Justice?? Posted August 16, 2005 9:28 PM
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  Of course DOD will push on. These are the same folks who had problems with following the laws that existed for decades and pressed for one (law) that excluded them from following the rules by making up their own as they move along their merry way.

  After all, you can't promise every wayward supervisor, manager and executive who just couldn't understand that they were bosses, not kings and queens that they now can't have it their way (pun intended). Just think how disappointed they would feel in having to manage within a set of rules.

  After all, they would be just like the good bosses out there who have done just that their entire careers and did just fine.

  Mark Gibson Posted August 16, 2005 5:36 PM
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  Boy! In the real world you can be charged with a crime even if you are not aware that your actions might be illegal. You are held accountable even if you were not aware of a particular law. Igonorance of the law is no excuse! Here the Government is going ahead with NSPS knowing full well that (by a Judge's order) DHS/NSPS breaks the law. Congress clearly wanted "collective bargaining" in DHS and NSPS but DOD could care less about the law. Don't you have to be a lawyer to be a Congressman?????

  Gil in Tex

  Gilbert Hernandez Posted August 16, 2005 4:48 PM