The DoD rules will not be effective for at least three
months, following a comment period, a period of
required consultation with unions, and a period for
Congress to act. Thus, the rules might be altered
before they become final. The labor relations
provisions would be effective immediately
department-wide. However, the appeals rights
provisions would be phased in along with the new pay
system. The first phase, involving some 60,000 employees,
is set for mid-year; those employees will get the same
January 2006 pay raises as federal employees generally,
but afterward may switch to a different pay cycle
linked to their performance rating cycles. Other groups
will follow over several years.
