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Union Government Workers Would Be October 20, 2004 Since Congress passed legislation in 2003 enabling the Department of Defense to initiate broad scale changes in collective bargaining, unions representing government workers have been in a battle with the Bush administration to protect workers rights. SEPTEMBER, 2003 IBEW LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET(PDF) Gil Bateman, IBEW Government Director, expressed the IBEWs concern that a Bush victory on November 2 could initiate a roll back of decades of progress for government workers and their union representatives. The Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization Act of 2004 initiated the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). The NSPS according to the Defense Department would initiate more "flexibility" to protect homeland security in the age of terrorism. The United DoD Workers Coalition, a group of over 35 unions, including the IBEW, contends that the NSPS is a backhanded attempt to weaken and destroy government unions, while leaving our nation more unsafe. Bateman and other leaders met with a DoD undersecretary early in 2004 to discuss the governments proposals that included changes which would undermine current understandings on seniority, job security and dispute resolution. "I asked the undersecretary what was wrong with the current system, so that we could bargain over specifics," says Bateman. "She refused to answer, exhibiting a take it or leave it attitude." Ron Ault, President of the Metal Trades Department (AFL-CIO), that includes the IBEW, issued a press release denouncing the governments refusal to bargain in good faith. He encouraged unions to speak to their Congressional leaders to gain support for meaningful negotiations. Union members were mobilized to make phone calls and send letters and e-mails. These efforts were recognized by a bi-partisan group of Congressional leaders. The DoD appointed Secretary of the Navy Gordon England to take over the discussions. Bateman describes the new discussions which have been recessed until after the November elections as more "polite," but he is concerned that the administration is still planning to institute unilateral changes if President Bush wins another term. If the DoD really is concerned about national security and not just union busting all they have to do, says Bateman, is sit down with the unions and put their cards on the table. "Our members are patriotic. During the Cold War, IBEW employees at the Navy and Coast Guard shipyards, never failed to supply our military with the best equipment in the world." DoD contends that work rule changes are needed to permit the emergency deployment of workers to foreign locations. "Thats not a problem," asserts Bateman. "When the USS Cole was bombed by terrorists, members of IBEW Local 734 in Norfolk, Virginia volunteered to travel thousands of miles to make the repairs necessary to bring it home to the U.S. Members of Local 733 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, who built the USS Cole, restored the vessel once it arrived home. The United DoD Workers Coalition argues that the NSPS actually undermines our national security. A statement from the group says: "In recent months federal employees have been responsible for documenting and reporting the inexcusable instances of profiteering, fraudulent charges and theft of tax dollars in the war in Iraq. Because of union representation and whistle blower protection, federal employees are able to safeguard the taxpayer dollar from such fraud and abuse." "The 2004 election really matters," says Bateman. "Our nation will be better off if we elect Senator John Kerry, a leader who sees union government workers as allies, not enemies. Our members cant afford four more years of anti-employee policies."
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