FederalDaily - July 18, 2005
Union Goes to Court over DHS Personnel
Regs
National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) last week argued for a preliminary
injunction that would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from
implementing new personnel regulations until the unions’ legal challenges
to those regulations are decided. At the end of the hearing, the court asked
if DHS would agree to delay implementation of the regulations until Aug. 15.
Doing so, U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary M. Collyer said, would allow her
to issue a decision on the merits of the case, rather than just issuing a decision
on the motion for a preliminary injunction. “Our questions about the
legality of the regulations must be answered before the rules are implemented,” Kelley
said. No word yet from DHS on whether it will agree to the postponement.
:: Back to Top ::
Free Entrance to HolocaustMuseum
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is offering all local, state and
federal government employees and retirees (including U.S. Postal Service and
military workers) immediate entry passes to the museum’s Permanent Exhibition.
Passes will be provided to those who can present an official government ID.
Government retirees may provide a CSA, CSF (retirement claim number) or pin
number. Those wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should present
their ID at the museum’s pass desk to receive their immediate entry passes. Individuals
may bring as many as four guests. Passes must be used on the day issued.
:: Back to Top ::
DoD Needs More Union Input
The Department of Defense’s (DoD) new personnel system (the National
Security Personnel System, or NSPS) will have far-reaching implications not
just for DoD, but for civil service reform across the federal government—but
only if it is done right, a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report
said. NSPS could serve as a model for government-wide transformation in human
capital management. However, if NSPS is not properly designed and implemented,
it could impede progress toward a more performance- and results-based system
for the federal government as a whole. GAO said while the design process has
involved employees through town hall meetings and other mechanisms, it has
not included employee representatives on the working groups that drafted the
design options. “A successful transformation must provide for meaningful
involvement by employees and their representatives,” the report stated.
:: Back to Top ::
New Benefit for OPM Employees
Employees at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) who voluntarily participate
in a pilot program will now be able to compute their personal civil service
retirement and Thrift Savings Plan benefits weeks, months or even years down
the road. Beginning last week, the Employee Benefits Information System (EBIS)
pilot also gives OPM employees access to a variety of other personnel benefit
information—similar to an employee benefits statement—including
current and projected annual and sick leave balances, projected retirement
estimates at certain age intervals, health and life insurance coverage information
and information on severance pay. OPM Director Linda M Springer said EBIS will
be available to OPM employees through the end of 2005.
:: Back to Top ::
|
