It’s been awhile since I last updated everyone and for that I apologize.  Things have been really wild and crazy; here at USMA and throughout the rest of the Department of Defense (DoD).  Let’s start here!

    As you know, we (USMA employees) are separated into two Commands, the Mission and Garrison (the IMA).  Isn’t that working out great! It’s time to analyze both sides of the HOUSE! 

   The Garrison currently has 3 activities operating under a MEO (Most Efficient Operation) as a result of A-76 Studies (Custodial, DOL and DOIM).  The DPW is expected to be announced for an A-76 Study in just a few weeks.  The Mission side has NEVER been required to have an A-76 Study nor will they be in the future.

    The Garrison is under a hiring freeze which has stopped them from even filling positions required under A-76.  The employees in the MEO are being set up for failure and management is doing little to help them.  The Mission is allowed to fill vacant positions while the Garrison can not. Whatever happened to the idea of being one USMA family and one West Point community? 

     Don’t get me wrong!  I don’t want ANY employee to be under an A-76 Study, but how can this be fair?  We can’t fill positions but we can spend time and money on doing a study, how does that make sense?  But (from my viewpoint) it even gets worse.  In DPW management is seriously considering only COMPETING blue collar jobs!  I guess that mechanics and maintenance personnel are expendable.  Is this how family members are treated?

    Federal employees are being picked apart and then pitted against one another.  It’s happening here and across DoD.  We are left trying to protect ourselves as our families are being crumpled.  We seem to only exist for today; with little concern for what may happen tomorrow.  When tomorrow suddenly becomes today; we ask why and how could this happen to me.  Well my friends welcome to today and what reality really is!

     The National Security Personnel System (NSPS) is REALITY and it will affect EVERYONE.  Until we band together as a family, and display our displeasure over this terrible, unjust and unfair system, DoD officials will continue to drive forward with implementing NSPS.  They are NOT concerned with recent Court decisions stating NSPS is illegal and unconstitutional.  They don’t care about being sued over and over by Unions, because they believe that YOU (Federal Employees) just don’t care and before you realize what NSPS is really all about, it will be too late.

     This Union (AFGE Local 2367) has been continuously trying to educate USMA employees on the details of NSPS but YOU have not been interested.  Tomorrow will quickly become today and there will be no time left to plan and prepare.  We (AFGE L2367) have tried holding employee briefings or meetings only to be forced to cancel them due to lack of employee interest.  We would like to try again!  Send us an e-mail, call the office or better yet attend a Union meeting (1^st Thursday of the month at Tony’s Pizza from 11:45 – 12:30).  You need to be educated and become aware of what’s happening and begin to fight to protect your future.  We must come together as the USMA family today because tomorrow it will be too late.

p.s. visit these web sites for info

www.afgedefcon.org

www.afge.org

www.uniteddodworkerscoalition.org