Defense Department officials say that they are continuing to study how to apply many of the provisions of the department’s upcoming national security personnel system to blue-collar employees. The current plan calls for pay banding and pay-for-performance to be phased in over 18 months, starting this summer, affecting some 300,000 white-collar employees, with the remainder of white-collar employees to follow later. However, officials say it will be at least a year until they formalize their plans regarding pay changes for blue-collar, or wage grade, employees. However, the changes in labor relations policies will take effect for both groups from the start.