Phase-In Continuing

Only those who entered “spiral 1.1” early last year—about 11,000 employees DoD-wide—had their raises affected in January; another 66,000 were put in “spiral 1.2” later in the year and their raises will first be affected in January 2008. A third group is set to enter NSPS in the spring and also will have their pay affected next January. The Air Force has said that about 1,200 of its employees will be in that phase, “spiral 1.3” effective March 18, which “will mark the completion of the initial phase of deployment of all eligible AF general schedule non-bargaining unit appropriated fund employees.” Further details of spiral 1.3 are yet to come. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court considering a challenge to the labor relations and appeal rights aspects of NSPS still has not issued a decision.