FederalDaily - August 26, 2005
BRAC Commission Evaluates DoD Proposals
On the first of its final four days of deliberations, the Base Realignment
and Closure (BRAC) Commission generally supported the Department of Defense's
(DoD) recommendations to make changes to military bases. DoD proposed closing
33 major bases and realigning 29 others. The BRAC Commission plans to finish
its deliberations and votes on Aug. 27. Meantime, it voted down some of DoD
proposals, including closing Submarine Base New London, Conn., and Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard, Maine . After its final vote this weekend, the panel will send
its report to President Bush by Sept. 8. The president, if he concurs, will
send the final list to Congress, which can accept or reject it in its entirety,
but not change it. For more information on BRAC, go to www.defenselink.mil/brac/.
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DOJ Finds Problems with Body Armor
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that test results indicate that
used Zylon-containing body armor vests may not provide the intended level of
ballistic resistance. As a result, DOJ will add an additional $10 million to
the $23.6 million already available to law enforcement to assist in the replacement
of Zylon-based body armor vests. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the
research, development and evaluation arm of DOJ, conducted testing on used
Zylon-based body armor. In its tests, NIJ found that 58 percent of the vests
were penetrated by at least one round during a six-shot test series. DOJ said
until new requirements become effective, Zylon-containing armor vests will
not be eligible for purchase with federal funds. For more information, go to www.ojp.usdoj.gov/pressreleases/NIJ05044.htm.
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NTEU, Park Service Squabble over Contract
The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) filed a grievance this week
against the National Park Service (NPS). The grievance accuses the agency of
violating the law in refusing to sign the parties' negotiated labor contract.
Earlier this year, the parties reached agreement on most terms of a new contract.
Then, on June 23, NTEU and NPS signed an agreement calling for implementation
of the negotiated contract and the submission to the Federal Service Impasses
Panel (FSIP) of four outstanding contract issues. However, NPS later decided
not to sign the agreement. NTEU President Colleen Kelley said “no effort
will be spared” by NTEU in its effort to put the new contract in place.
NTEU represents 825 employees in NPS.
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Injured DHS Employee Wins Reinstatement
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced that it
won reinstatement of an employee of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
after the agency fired her claiming she was medically incapable of completing
job training. The employee, a field training officer with the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, Federal Protective Services, was required to attend and
complete the Mixed Police Basic Training Program. Following knee surgery, she
was told that she could not attend the training and soon after was fired from
her job. AFGE argued that DHS did not prove the grievant was medically unable
to complete her training. The arbitrator found in favor of AFGE and awarded
that the grievant be reinstated with back pay, according to the union.
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