Preference Remains an Issue

The importance of veterans preference in the federal workplace is reflected by the ongoing concerns by unions that new personnel rules at the Department of Defense will undercut those rights, particularly in reductions in force. DoD has made numerous efforts to explain that under its proposed changes to RIF retention standing, the role of veterans preference would remain unchanged and that only the roles of length of service and performance ratings would be altered, with the latter moving ahead of the former under the NSPS rules. However, unions remain skeptical and argue that veterans could be targeted for removal under separate provisions giving DoD more leeway in deciding which jobs would be potentially affected by RIF procedures.