At the hearing, Comptroller General David Walker suggested
that the proposal could be split in two parts, with the
pay, classification and performance management elements
separate from the union and appeal right issues. Walker
said that while the government has experience in
demonstration projects and other special settings with pay
reforms that could serve as the basis for government-wide
action, although he also urged that any changes in those
areas be phased in and effective at an agency only when it
can demonstrate that it could handle such a system fairly
and effectively.
Linda Springer, Office of Personnel Management director,
said that the administration’s bill would require such an
approach, since OPM would have to certify that agency
systems are ready. She stressed that around 90,000
employees already are under such systems and said OPM will
be producing a report soon on how those systems are working.
However, Norton questioned whether the experience in
demonstration projects and specialty agencies such as the
Government Accountability Office, which tend to focus on a
small number of occupations, would be applicable across
government.
On the union and employee appeal rights side, Norton and Van
Hollen questioned the need for such changes and said that
the proposed language to bypass normal union rights in
“emergency” situations is so broad as to encompass most
regular agency activities. Federal unions said that while
they are open to the concept of splitting the bill, they
would oppose both halves as currently drafted.
