Please read this important message from Edwin B. Lant III President, Portsmouth Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

National Security Personnel System
Public Law 108-136
Department of Defense

Federal Workers ask for your help:

NSPS was enacted by the U.S. Congress at the request of Defense Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld. The Law replaces the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. Secretary Rumsfeld testified to Congress that the need to change the law(s) was a necessity due to the 9-11 Terrorist attack. Making note that our federal workers are no better then the terrorist that had attacked us. While Congress open-handedly gave up its sole power and responsibility over the Department of Defense’s Federal Civil Servants, the Department took this as an opportunity to interpret the law as it saw fit. And inturn developed language that restricts the federal worker and limits the workers rights to appeal disciplinary actions, adverse actions and the rights of unions to represent the employee and negotiate on behalf of the general workforce.

One major change that NSPS permits is how the federal workforce will be paid. NSPS allows for the creation of “PAY BANDING”. Pay Banding is the grouping of pay levels and grades into restricted bands. Pay Banding is based on various public factors, such as the local economic status and pay levels of comparative occupations. This along with the annual federal budget, the productive effort of the worker and the subjective attitude of the manager(s) will dictate weather an individual is awarded a pay increase or reduced in pay to a level comparative to the local occupations. What this means is that a federal worker with an annual income 40K can be reduced by the stroke of a pen to 30K without notice nor an opportunity to challenge the action nor to have fair and equitable treatment nor a day in court. With this ability to affect individuals pay will drastically affect the economic stability of the region. Hey ! ! what about the loss of a carrier to Florida. Brothers in high places of government can really change the world. Currently Naval Shipyard has No Work to sustain its workforce.

All Federal Employees of the Department of Defense, and this is a majority of the federal workforce in South Hampton Roads and is specific the City of Portsmouth will be affected by this law change.

We ask that each of you call, fax, write, send E-Mails to all Congressional Leaders and express discontent with Public Law 108-136 NSPS.This law must be repealed, or at a minimum reduced in scope and thoroughly planned out prior to being implemented.