Statement of the Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro on Homeland Security Management 'Walk-Out' From Union Talks

Statement of the Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro on Homeland Security Management "Walk-Out" From Union Talks

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today released the following statement in response to news reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has "walked out" of private talks with two major unions on the Bush administration's plan for a new pay and personnel system covering about 180,000 homeland security employees. The department published proposed regulations in February of this year which, once into effect, would establish a new personnel system in 2005. The regulations reportedly give managers more discretion in setting employee pay and would curb the clout of unions by limiting the topics that can be put on the table for contract negotiations. Congress, in laying out a process for the reforms, directed the department and the unions to confer for at least 30 days on the proposed regulations.

"I am disappointed that the process between the Department of Homeland Security and labor leaders has broken down. I understand that representatives from both the National Treasury Employees Union, and the American Federation of Government Employees have been leading discussions with DHS management since mid-June and progress was being made. If we are going to establish a new personnel system at DHS worthy of its employees and the service they provide in keeping our nation secure, it is critical that management comes back in good faith to the table and finish the discussions."

Congress created the Department of Homeland Security, a merger of 22 agencies with different pay and workplace rules, following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. DeLauro served on the Select Committee on Homeland Security which drafted legislation creating the new department in 2002.