Personnel Policies Remain at Issue

The Homeland Security Department bill being brought to the House floor would give the new agency greater flexibility over performance appraisals, job classification, pay rates, adverse actions, appeals and labor-management systems. The plan would leave largely intact basic civil service protections such as merit principles, anti-discrimination law, whistleblower protection, overtime, family leave, and veterans preference. As that plan was crafted, though, the special committee dropped language that had been accepted in the House Government Reform Committee to preserve current union rights of employees who are moved into similar jobs in the new agency. Instead, the special committee adopted language supporting the right of employees to join unions, although still leaving the agency room to revoke union rights on national security grounds.