President Holway Meets with NSPS Review Committee
June 15, 2009
National President David J. Holway met with the NSPS Review Task Group at the Pentagon Friday. He was joined by Deputy General Counsel Jean Zeiler, National Executive Board member Dale Dandrea, and several other DoD union leaders.
President Holway led the meeting off by calling on Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates to "completely repudiate NSPS."
"If the Defense Department truly wants to have a pay system that maintains a quality workforce and is completely transparent, then they need to start over with a blank sheet of paper," said Holway. "NAGE and all of organized labor is prepared to work the administration to develop a fair, effective, and transparent system."
The Task Group charged with reviewing the National Security Personnel System was formed by the Defense Business Board at the request of Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn.
The purpose of the Task Group is to review NSPS to help the Department determine: (1) if the underlying design principles and methodology for implementation are reflected in the NSPS program objectives; (2) whether the program objectives are being met; and (3) whether NSPS is operating in a fair, transparent, and effective manner.
NAGE applauds the formation of the task group and notes that it's a positive turn in the direction of cooperation and collaboration between workers and management.
Acknowledging the change in labor relations tone, Dandrea reported, "In over seven years of meetings, we were finally in a room with people who were genuinely willing to listen and work with us."
Attorney Zeiler concurred. "This Task Group was set up to provide a forum for a discussion of the problems with NSPS. It's finally an opportunity for us to say, 'here are our concerns; here's what needs to be fixed.'"
Public meetings of the Defense Business Board’s Task Group Review of the NSPS will be held June 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and June 26 from 9:00 a.m. until noon, resuming from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Hyatt-Arlington, 1325 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Va.
On June 25 the Task Group will invite experts on this topic who have recently testified before Congress. On June 26 the Task Group will hear from select members of the public where the Task Group requires additional information or explanation from previously submitted written comments.