4 Unions Sue Over New Rules for Homeland Security Workers

[housewolf]

Four unions filed suit on Thursday to prevent the Bush administration from carrying out the first phase of a personnel system that would give officials sweeping power to reward, punish and reassign federal employees.

The suit was filed by career employees of the Homeland Security Department, challenging rules it issued on Wednesday.

White House officials said the new procedures, affecting 110,000 employees, were a model for changes throughout the federal government.

The unions asked the Federal District Court here to issue an injunction against the final rules, which will be published on Tuesday in The Federal Register and will take effect in a few months.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/28/politics/28home.html

[EC]

1. Knew this was coming...n/t

[JDPriestly]

2. When the statute that established Homeland Security

was passed, I wrote Feinstein to ask her if its language deprived Homeland Security employees of the protection of the whistleblower laws. She gave me some completely irrelevant response.

I still don't know what the answer is to my question, but, without a doubt, the power Homeland Security Department supervisors have over their employees discourages whistleblowers and, as a result, invites corruption. Sooner or later, there will be a huge scandal -- if the press remains free enough to report it.

I don't think things are so bad yet, but the Homeland Security Department has the potential to become a facist tool.

[struggle4progress]

3. Union? Threatens Natl Security. Habeas corpus? Threatens Natl Security.

Veterans benefit? Threatens Natl Security. FOIA? Threatens Natl Security. Wildlife refuge? Threatens Natl Security ...