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Kelley Welcomes Shift of Substantial DHS Funding Away From Implementing New and Unnecessary Personnel System

Press Release May 20, 2005

Washington, D.C.—The leader of the union representing more than 15,000 border security employees welcomed action by the House of Representatives in shifting millions of dollars in fiscal 2006 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations away from implementation of a new and unnecessary DHS personnel system.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) called the shift of some $26 million from the DHS personnel system to pay for training and equipment for firefighters across the nation “a much better use of the money than the purpose for which DHS initially requested it—implementing this unnecessary and unwise personnel system.”

The administration had sought an increase for DHS of $53 million over last year for implementing its new personnel rules, including spending $18 million on contractors to help design the performance management component of the system and another $6 million to set up internal labor relations boards. Kelley expressed NTEU’s strong opposition to these proposed expenditures in a letter to every member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

While applauding the shift of funds through a bipartisan amendment offered by Reps. Martin Sabo (D-MN), Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Curt Weldon (R-PA), President Kelley noted NTEU’s continuing concerns that the bill still fails to provide adequate staffing and resource levels for employees of DHS’s Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“We will continue to fight for adequate resources, protections and rights for all CBP employees,” Kelley said. NTEU has been leading the fight against a new personnel system devised by DHS and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which significantly restricts collective bargaining, due process and employee appeal rights. NTEU is seeking in a federal court suit to block implementation of key elements of the new system.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing some 150,000 employees in 30 agencies and departments.

Contact: NTEU-PR@NTEU.org, 202-572-5500