FederalDaily - February 27, 2007
NTEU Welcomes New Pay-for-Performance Timetable
The leader of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) Feb. 26 called the decision of the Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) to revise its timetable for implementing a pay-for-performance system a “victory
for DHS employees.” NTEU President Colleen Kelley said that “at least over the next two
years [employees] will be operating under a pay system they both understand and trust.” Kelley
said the decision to delay full implementation and instead institute a pilot program in 2008 provides
a chance for the agency to work with employees on “the serious mission and morale issues” affecting
the department. NTEU represents about 14,000 employees in the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection.
For more, go to: www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1042.
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Army to Examine PDES Program
The Army said it will take a close look at its Physical Disability Evaluation System (PDES), the program
responsible for assessing patients recuperating from injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. Disability
evaluations are one of a number of concerns that are being addressed by the Army in the wake of a series
of stories by The Washington Post that looked at the negative experiences of vets recovering
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Gen. Richard Cody, vice chief of staff of the Army, said on Feb.
23 that the Army is beginning to overhaul the medical bureaucracy, including the process by which soldiers
are evaluated and either discharged or returned to active duty. The Army admits it can’t keep
up with the PDES caseload and does not meet its own case-processing time standards. Also, the Army
Inspector General, who has conducted a limited review of PDES, said his findings show that the training
for personnel assisting soldiers is not standardized and that current information management databases
are inadequate. To see more, go to: www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2007/02/23/1962-army-implements-soldier-outpatient-service-and-support-improvement-plan
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Poll: Americans Reject Reinstitution of Draft
Americans simply reject the notion of reinstituting the military draft, according to a new Harris
Poll, which shows that only one in four of those polled (24 percent) support a draft for military service.
However, a majority of those polled (73 percent) feel that young people should give something back
to their country, but that this service should be voluntary. Other results from the poll, released
Feb. 23, show that more than four in 10 adults (43 percent) support a draft of young adults where they
could choose to serve in the military or in non-military civilian service. Also, a majority of adults
(55 percent) support increasing the federal budget to allow everyone who is qualified and wants to
serve in full-time service programs such as the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps to do so. The Harris Poll
conducted an online survey of 2,337 U.S. adults between Jan. 11 and Jan. 18. The poll was conceived
and developed by Harris Interactive and was not commissioned by any organization—although input
was sought from the National Youth Leadership Council. “What is significant about these results
is the agreement across demographic groups and ideological lines,” said Chris Moessner, research
director in the youth and education research practice at Harris Interactive. The different political
factions “all support higher funding for non-military civilian service opportunities.” To
see more, go to: www.prnewswire.com/news/index_mail.shtml?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-23-2007/0004533452&EDATE
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