NSPS Changes Opposed

By: fedweek

The White House has issued what amounts to a mild statement of opposition to a language in the pending Senate version of the DoD authorization bill (S-1547) restricting the national security personnel system. The bill would repeal the authority under NSPS to curtail union rights in numerous areas, including the scope of allowable bargaining, while excluding wage grade employees from NSPS (everyone in the system so far is in a white-collar position). “The Senate bill is a significant improvement over the House version; however, the administration remains opposed to the repeal of current authority to implement a mission-focused labor management relations system,” the statement said. That stands in contrast to the veto threat the administration issued because of NSPS language in the House-passed bill (HR-1585). The House measure would repeal the department’s authority to restrict union rights and revamp adverse action procedures and employee appeal rights, while requiring that a revised pay system under NSPS be subject to union negotiations.