They put a damper on the new personnel work rules of Homeland Security, now labor unions have turned to the Defense Department, challenging in court the Pentagon’s new National Security Personnel System work rules issued last month. (DR, 10/28/05) The unions claim they were stiff-armed by the Pentagon. According to Government Executive, they say DOD officials held meetings with union representatives present, but there was no substantive conversation about the rules took place. Unions also argue that the new system, which will govern 650,000 employees, fails to safeguard employee collective bargaining rights.
In a rare letter to the entire force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury, the massive U.S. operation against Iran.