| Comment Number: | OL-10508512 |
| Received: | 3/15/2005 9:15:15 AM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
The NSPS is a welcome change in the area of labor relations. This rule, as proposed in the Federal Register, will allow management within DoD to work more efficiently in completing its mission in the interest of national security. The NSPS will allow for the agency to implement its issuances without spending an excessive amount of time negotiating language on local appropriate arrangements and trips to the Federal Services Impasses Panel. Bargaining unit employees will retain their fundamental rights to organize, bring up issues through the negotiated grievance procedures and bargain or collaborate on working conditions. Management should not have to resort to requesting services of the Panel for putting into place policies that are already spelled out in law or that are government-wide when a local bargaining unit has an interpretation of law that prevents the basic policy from being implemented. This has happened frequently under the current Labor Relations Statute. As a former Labor Relations Specialist, I have seen unions bring to impasse regulations governing the control of information technology. It means taking months to mediate and complete impasse procedures to implement a regulation that governs security for computer technologies which are so critical to national security. The NSPS will not prevent unions at the national level from being creative and petitioning the OPM to bring about advances in benefits to bargaining unit employees, a positive step that would improve relations between employer and employee.