FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE        Tuesday, June 20, 2006

CONTACT: Matt Biggs (240) 535-3321

House Votes to End NSPS

Amendment Calling for Defunding of NSPS Passes House

WASHINGTON, DC – Member unions of the United DoD Workers Coalition (UDWC) reacted to today's House of Representatives vote to defund the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).  Today's Congressional rebuke of NSPS was led by Representatives Inslee (D, WA), Van Hollen (D, MD) and Jones (R, NC), who successfully offered an amendment to HR 5631, the Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07) Defense Appropriations Bill.  The amendment, which called for the defunding of the illegal portions of NSPS, passed without opposition on a voice-vote.

The following UDWC member union leaders commented on today's House vote:

Ron Ault, President of the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department, offered the following comments:

"It goes without saying that today’s victory is a huge step toward putting this blatant attack on DoD’s workforce to rest.  Even with today’s victory however we will not rest on our laurels and will continue to work toward ensuring that the Inslee/Van Hollen/Jones language makes its way into the final conference report.  I applaud those who supported this sound piece of legislation, in particular Congressmen Inslee, Van Hollen and Walter Jones, all of whom have been by the sides of the DoD workers for the last three years.  We at the Metal Trades Department, and all of us within the UDWC, will not soon forget their efforts."

Gregory Junemann, President of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), also weighed in.  “First and foremost, I want to extend a hearty note of appreciation to Representatives Jones, Inslee and Van Hollen for leading the effort to put an end to the National Security Personnel System.  I also applaud Congressman Jeb Bradley for adding his voice to the debate in rejecting this ideologically fueled personnel system.  Today the House officially recognized the NSPS for exactly what it is -- a costly personnel system not geared toward national security, but intended to strip the rights and pay from hundreds of thousands of civilian personnel working at DoD.  As we move toward Senate action and ultimately to conference IFPTE, along with all of the member unions of the UDWC, will continue to work hand in hand to put an end to NSPS.”

John Gage, President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) stated, “I am pleased to see the House of Representatives show its support for the findings of the court that the department has overreached in its labor relations and appeal rights regulations. It’s a credit to Jay Inslee, Chris Van Hollen, and Walter Jones that the House passed this important amendment."

David Holway, President of the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU) provided the following:  “While it's unfortunate that the Department of Defense chose to ignore the law that Congress passed authorizing NSPS, it is inspiring that Congress voted not to allow itself to be bullied or fooled into believing that wasteful spending on an illegal personnel system is a wise use of fiscal resources.”

In rounding out the comments of the Coalition, UDWC Chairman Byron Charlton provided the following comments:

 "Today’s voice vote in support of the Inslee/Van Hollen/Jones amendment made clear that the current plan to disenfranchise 700,000 DoD workers nationwide is as unacceptable to Congress as it is to the Federal courts.  Through their hard work these patriotic American workers continue to support and protect this great nation and deserve nothing less than the same workplace and national democracy that this nation is seeking for others throughout the world.  They love their country, and they have served it with distinction over the years.  The Coalition recognizes that we have hurdles left to overcome in our struggle to maintain at a minimum dignity and justice in the workplace and as evidenced by today’s successful vote to defund NSPS, that struggle begins here in the Seat of our nation."

To learn more about NSPS and the UDWC, please visit www.uniteddodworkerscoalition.org .

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