Pentagon Parley

Navy Secretary Gordon England will serve as point man for negotiations with organized labor over controversial proposed changes to the Pentagon's personnel system.

The appointment was announced Wednesday during a hearing of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization. Chairwoman Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., said the decision was made by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Last year, Pentagon officials asked Congress for the right to restructure Pentagon personnel policy. Rumsfeld and Defense Undersecretary David Chu have said that they need a more agile civilian workforce to support the uniformed military. Citing ongoing military conflicts, lawmakers allowed the change, and the Pentagon recently released a proposal for the new policy.

Union leaders, however, have lashed out at the proposal and said it has nothing to do with national security. They are worried that the provisions will signal the end of collective bargaining and severely curb union membership. On Monday, the American Federation of Government Employees held a rally in Washington to express their opposition to the personnel changes.

During a congressional hearing Wednesday, union leaders continued their assault on the proposed provisions, with AFGE President John Gage describing the document as deceitful.

"It was never clear what the problem was that this legislation was trying to fix," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. No NTEU members are directly affected by the Pentagon changes-but the group has decided to show solidarity against what it feels are unfair labor reforms.

The Pentagon, however, says that it wants to talk.

"We are exchanging ideas, and we will continue to meet with the labor unions," said a Defense official on Monday. "The DoD draft options are not a final proposal, but a discussion document. Discussions continue, and we are interested in a constructive exchange of ideas."

Although the legislation passed and the Pentagon is legally permitted to implement the National Security Personnel System, the appointment of Navy Secretary England shows that the Pentagon is paying attention to union opposition.

According to Davis, England said on Wednesday that "he is willing to work with unions."

Union leaders, including Gage, have complained that they are not heard by senior Pentagon officials.

"Now you have a name," Davis said.