5) *****DOD PERSONNEL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO UPSET DOD WORKFORCE*****

A number of Department of Defense workers nationwide are holding rallies and
town hall meetings to protest their concerns about proposed changes to the
DoD personnel system. Recently, Department of Defense employees attended
meetings at Davis Monthan AFB (Ariz.), Warner Robins AFB (Ga.) and Redstone
Arsenal (Ala.).

"U.S. soldiers are in harms way half way around the globe, and Americans are
asked to support our troops," said Don Hale, a DoD worker of 16 years. "Yet
the Department of Defense wants to strip civilian defense workers - the very
people who actually do support our troops, every day, on the job - of the
workplace protections that enable us to fulfill our mission,".

In November 2003, Congress passed legislation at the request of the Bush
Administration authorizing the DoD Secretary to revamp the DoD personnel
system. The law grants the DoD Secretary new authority in many areas
including the civil service system, pay, appeal rights and collective
bargaining agreements.

On Feb. 6, DoD officials released an initial outline of the National
Security Personnel System that includes eliminating the right of employees
to appeal disciplinary actions to impartial third parties.