Return to Article: High court extends deadline for appeal of Defense personnel system
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39288
Comments are that NSPS is needed to invoke pay 4 performance. Yes, but if you are assuming that managers are going to do MORE to make that happen, how good is that working in GS now, not so good (I guess that is the problem that really should be addressed. How about an NSPS for only supervisors!)? Are you telling me that managers are going to spend more time on the pay system because it's NEW!?? Wrong, they will adapt to what they have time for, or are forced to do with additional "duties" that have nothing to do with management. Really, managers are hacked with the current disipline system and will be hacked with the new one as well, meanwhile our wages will go down if we, as workers, stay put.
NSPS has the good ole boy network by default, which will cause "good" managers to spend more time trying to be objective and "bad/lazy" managers just stamp it and go.
The bottom line is that NSPS is really the final straw for the portable government worker, making it just like the corporate sector. My TSP is portable (compared to CSRS) and with my time in grade meaning nothing, I can hop jobs without loosing any benefit! Whoohoo, jump now at 12 step 5 at 73849 (2008) for a comercial job at 95000 and apply back to government for the same job at 100735 in Pay band 2. Remember, gov't wants to be competitive in hiring salary so they should want my experience and will have to pay in order to get me. However, if i stay in my current position I will have to compete for my cost of living increase....hummm, am I missing something? Have a great NSPS, can you say bye bye?
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38290
Prior to going back to school and getting accepted into an intern program (after 20 years federal service), I was an AFGE union steward. I didn't like NSPS then, and now that I am not a BUE I get to go to NSPS in February, I still don't like it. I'm scheduled for training next month, and while reviewing the material I had to print before I go, I came across the form for setting the performance guidelines and evaluation. It is a mere 13 pages long! I'm trying to picture supervisors wading through 13 page documents for each of their employees.
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38046
Folks, how is that no one talks about NSPS for what it really is, a money saving pay system. Many GS employees will never be "promoted" in the old manner ever again. If you are a GS-9,11,12,13 there is no way to get more money, even if your supervisor wants to give it to you, as there are only 2 promotions under NSPS, payband 1 to 2, and 2 to 3. Any new position within your payband is CAPPED at a 5% increase. For all you who think this is pay-for-performance, I'm sorry its not. You can be the best employee in the world, and the most you can look at getting is a 5% raise every 12 months.
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38016
I thought the Government Schedule (GS) employees within DOD were placed under NSPS because we are ESSENTIAL to national security. Now, DOD says that if money starts to dry up, they will furlough employees within NSPS. How can this be? If NSPS employees are ESSENTIAL to National Security, and we are at war, how could we possibly be considered for furlough - any answer Secretary Gates??
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37740
The comment - "The only ones getting rich off this is the lawyers," makes no sense. In house union lawyers make a yearly salary regardless of NSPS. Indeed, the idea of a rich in house union lawyer is funny (unless they have a rich spouse or had money before coming in house).
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37539
AFGE General Counsel, (if you really are the GC for AFGE) your political bias explains a lot about AFGE.
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37523
The only ones getting rich off this is the lawyers. Stop fighting NSPS it's here and come March 2008 most of DOD will be under it. It's not that bad, We are into our 2nd cycle and things have improved drastically. Maybe you all should embrace change as Hillary Clinton and Barack so often cite. hmmm.
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37475
I would like to know what DoD will do if they start getting a large number of compliants that the new system is unfair? Like 1, 5 or even 10% of the total employees. What would Congress and OPM do about it? Would there be any way to scrap the whole system and put everyone back on the GS? I believe there are holes in this to be able to take advantage of employees, even though it is supposed to be better for them. I read comments from a few DoD employees who have been converted who said they did not get their total cost of living increase because half was put into a large pot as a kind of bonus, and the other half was given. This with the fact that those employees received the favorable rating on their evaluations.
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37457
Scotty - The language is in the Authorization bill not the Appropriation bill, which is why you havent seen anything about it. In simplest terms: Authorization is the "ok" to buy something, Appropriation is the actual money to buy it. The horse came before the cart in a sense this year..money before the "ok" some feel that somewhat reduces the importance of the Authorization bill, and gives a bit more weight to a veto threat as Bush very well may feel.."Ive got the appropriation who really needs autorization". I think if Congress really wants something to have teeth, tie it to an Appropriation bill..not an Authorization bill.
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37428
Has anyone done a comparative analysis of the benefits taken away by NSPS? For example, under NSPS there is no longer a Transfer of Work determination--language that previously meant TOW was unilaterally changed to now mean Transfer of Function (TOF) in every instance--a very subtle change but the results are significant. Also, under NSPS employees who decline transfer of function (even at a BRAC base) are no longer eligible for 18 months of continued health benefit coverage. Just about every other employee category (RIF'd employees, temporary employees, etc remain eligible). Additionally, under NSPS unless you stay for the full performance cycle you won't receive any of the cost-of-living (COL) increase...this means employees can no longer retire on 3 or 4 Jan--they will have to defer until 3 or 4 Feb. These are but a few examples---what others are out there? Govt Executive magazine should do an article outlining of the changes under NSPS----.
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37421
Scotty, the bill that was passed a few days ago was the 08 Defense Appropriations bill. The conferees decided to drop the NSPS provisions because the 08 Defense Authorization bill already has those provisions. The def auth bill is currently undergoing conference negotiations.
They are two different bills.
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37414
When the NSPS was first proposed its creators wanted to abolish the General Schedule because it rewarded 'longevity' over performance. They also thought it was too hard to remove undesirable employees.
I believe the current system rewards loyalty, not longevity, and there are adequate systems in place for managers to deal with poor performers. However, this process takes some effort and requires documentation, and some managers can't or are unwilling to complete it.
We just went through the annual performance awards process at our agency, and as usual management's favorite employees were rewarded and everyone else was passed by. I can't imagine having to rely on management to objectively provide pay raises under the proposed system.
The General Schedule and current system don't need to be fixed and should be left in place.
Thanks for letting me vent...
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37409
It appears to me someone outside DoD (at the Congressional level) should take a hard look at this new personnel system. Ask government employees (managers and employees) who are now in the system their opinions and really listen. The cost, not only in dollars but in time, has hampered other more critical missions. NSPS was implemented before it was ready. The lack of rules, regulations and guidance before implementation is appalling and allows the system to run itself at the expense of employees. Personnelists are caught in the middle of using old GS rules in a system not geared for those rules. Policies and procedures are implemented differently everywhere depending on interpretation. Rules are now in place that disadvatnage government employees. Is anyone at the Congressional level listening? GT
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37408
For those of you in early, mid-career, don't get all worked up about NSPS. Everything will change several more times, and not necessarily for the better, if you plan on working for the federal government. Change Agent, Change Management, get used to it.
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37405
I am confused and disturbed by the negative comments implying that the unions, including my union AFGE, should accept nothing less than a complete repeal of NSPS--as if its our decision to make in the first place and not the Congress'.
I thought my statements were clear that a complete repeal was a veto magnet that would not be overridden and therefore would leave NSPS as is--which is off the charts unacceptable. In contrast, the compromise being urged on by AFGE is aimed at restoring collective bargaining, full MSPB and grievance procedure rights, and a host of other "civil service rights and protections" that neutralize the worst parts of NSPS as designed by DOD. For those folks who are intent on holding out for all or nothing, where have you been for 7 years of dealing with the unelected man in the White House? An all or nothing posture would without a doubt lead to NOTHING as he has only one year to go and could care less about being wrong again!
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37400
I know that the unions have had a very tough time fighting NSPS and that they must be weary...but they can't give up. They should not accept any part or parcel of NSPS. The union brings a case to court and the Fed side steps the court ruling and keeps plugging away with the portions of NSPS that have not been deemed totally illegal. The unions need to stand up and fight not only for their own existence, but they need to fight every aspect of NSPS since NSPS was bad from its very conception. If the union does not fight NSPS to the point where it is abolished, then every federal worker will be left with the fallout: Unfair appraisal practices, unfairly funded Bonus money vs fair COLA increases, much smaller retirements. The federal worker's pay will still be significantly impacted by NSPS and the Fed will have won a significant victory by not having to pay the civilian worker a fair retirement that they had under the GS system. The unions are the only agencies standing in the gap holding the Fed accountable. Federal workers are ready to go on a nation-wide strike and are ready to join class action law suits to stop NSPS; The unions need to understand that they have virtually every federal workers support, but we must have a strong voice to stop this insane personnel system. EVERY FEDERAL WORKER NEEDS TO FIGHT EVERY ASPECT OF NSPS TO THEIR DYING BREATH. NSPS does not have one single redeeming value. If any part of NSPS exists then we are all Government slaves.
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37381
Forget compromise. To paraphrase what Denise said, the NSPS is a step backward. As an "alternative personnel system" made possible by 5 USC 47, the NSPS should be limited to a "demonstration project." This is how it began. However, it should not be generalized past the the limits of the basic Code.
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37380
Ah yes, NSPS. The personnel system that was developed and planned by the same people who brought you the Iraq war.... and with the same level of thought and foresight. Having just gone through a rating cycle I can tell you that it is no more "objective" concerning performance than the previous system. The only difference is now you have an entire panel of people that you have to be concerned not to offend, instead of just your supervisor and senior rater.
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37379
The bill that was passed is the 2008 DoD Appropriations bill. The 2008 DoD Authorization bill is being reconciled between the Senate and House versions. The NSPS changes are in the Authorization Bill so it's not being reported on because nothing has happened yet. As far as AFGE actions, the stakes are very high. If they go to the Supreme Court and LOSE it would be a setback for Federal Workers in ALL agencies, not just Defense. Anyone remember the "Working for America" proposal? I agree that the limits congress is looking at will not help. This whole system needs revoked.
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37358
I don't get it, the DOD appropriations bill for FY2008 was signed yesterday morning, and it is supposed to include all the language the house and senate put into both their individual bills, but I can't find anything on it and can't understand why no one is reporting on it.
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37338
This is very discouraging since the only "fix" would be a total repeal of the system. Bush can threaten but there is no way he would dare hold up Iraq funding over NSPS. To do so would only put this entire system on the public radar screen which the administration does not want. GAO substantially underestimated the implementaiton costs of this system, not to mention that it is now clear this systtem is quickly bringing us back to the spoils system of the early 1900s. If AFGE doesn't push do abolish NSPS altogeather they will prove once and for all that unions within the govt are useless.
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