Federal employees who have met with the Senator have expressed their concern over provisions that would give the administration broad powers to alter or even waive altogether employee protections now in law. Of particular concern to some employees is the ability the administration seeks to alter the appeals process that applies to federal employees as well as whether the administration would exempt all of the department''s employees from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Act, which allows workers to join unions and engage in collective bargaining.
Through meetings with Director Ridge and in a September 13th letter to him, Senator Collins called on the administration to provide increased worker protection as part of the homeland security bill now being considered in the Senate.
"I expressed my concern to Director Ridge that the provisions in the administration's plan exceeded the powers actually needed by the new secretary," said Senator Collins. "I understand the need for some flexibility in creating the new Department and am confident that the administration would not misuse its new powers. Nevertheless, I believe that the legislation should specify a fair and workable appeals process from the Department''s employees."
Governor Ridge has responded by agreeing to language that restricts the administration''s authority to alter existing rights of federal employees when appealing adverse employment actions. Specifically, the language creates a presumption against changing existing protections, and allows only for modifications "designed to further the fair, efficient, and expeditious resolution of matters involving the employees of the Department."
Governor Ridge has also written to Senator Collins to assure her that President Bush has "no intention of using the creation of the new Department to justify a blanket exemption of all of its employees from the FLMRA."
A copy of the full letter from Director Ridge to Senator Collins is attached.