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National Security Personnel System
Federal fire fighters play an essential role in protecting the vital
interests of the United States, and face some of the most difficult
and hazardous working conditions in the country, including
protecting our nation's military installations. Federal fire
fighters deserve due process rights and collective bargaining rights
-- rights that would be denied to DoD civilian employees, including
federal fire fighters, under the National Security Personnel System
(NSPS).
In February 2006, the U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia ruled certain portions of NSPS illegal. In May 2007,
a federal appellate court overturned the ruling of the district
court. The appellate court decision has been appealed.
The
final version of the Fiscal Year 2008 defense authorization bill (H.R. 1585)
includes groundbreaking reforms to reign in the National Security Personnel
System (NSPS), a personnel system that had undermined the collective bargaining
and appeal rights for all DoD civilian employees. As a member of the
United DoD Workers Coalition (UDWC) - a coalition comprised of 36 labor
organizations representing 750,000 DoD civilian employees - the IAFF joined
forces with congressional allies and the labor community to restructure NSPS and
restore collective bargaining and appeal rights for DoD fire fighters and their
civilian counterparts.
In
late December, President Bush unexpectedly vetoes H.R. 1585 after intense
lobbying by the Iraqi government in opposition to a provision that would expand
the right of U.S. citizens to sue foreign state sponsors of terrorism in U.S.
courts.
For
more information about the National Security Personnel System and
current congressional action, click here: Fact
Sheet
For more information about President Bush's veto
of the Fiscal Year 2008 defense authorization bill, click here:
Bush Vetoes Defense Bill
For more information about the overhaul of the
National Security Personnel System passed by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2008
defense authorization bill, click here:
Defense Bill Scores Big Win
for DoD Fire Fighters
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