Posted on 08/20/2004 11:17:41 AM PDT by MindFire
Border Patrol union says new rules 'muzzle' critics of the agency
BEN FOX
Associated Press
TEMECULA, Calif. - New labor rules proposed by the Department of Homeland Security would muzzle internal critics of the Border Patrol by making it easier to punish and fire agents, who have often been vocal critics of management policies, union officials said.
The new regulations would take effect upon their release, expected in late summer or early fall. As proposed, they would make significant changes to rules covering some 50,000 Homeland Security employees, including immigration, agricultural and customs inspectors on the border.
Homeland Security officials say the regulations would give the agency the flexibility necessary to fight terrorism, but unions representing federal employees say the proposals rules are unfair to workers and would stifle whistleblowers. "People aren't going to be willing to talk. It's going to have a very chilling effect," T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council, said Wednesday.
More recently, the union urged Homeland Security officials to allow a mobile patrol unit to resume apprehensions of illegal immigrants in inland cities. The 12-agent group, based out of the Temecula station, made more than 400 arrests in June before the operations were halted amid an outcry by activists and politicians.
Union leaders defended the mobile patrol at a town hall meeting in Temecula on Friday, but Bonner and others said agents would be afraid to be so vocal "It would be career suicide, and if you get fired from a law enforcement job it's a stain," he said. "It's the kiss of death for getting another law enforcement job or even menial work." The proposed regulations allow the government to fire people for national security reasons under an expedited process; create new mandatory firing offenses and eliminate arbitration for removal,
(Excerpt) Read more at sanluisobispo.com ...
>>Some cleaning personnel also 'accidentally' ran a cleaning cart into a 'reinforced' cockpit door
popping it off it's hinges....(same mag)<<
Are you kidding?
Big round of applause from California!
You are exactly right, but Cheap Labor Republican #2 (Dane) needs it to be to keep you silent. We can't have this heresy posted on FR.
This isn't about D Vs R bah bah bah bah nonsense. you think anyone who criticizes the immigration policy in the USA is somehow 'liberal'? come on, get real. leftist, for the most part, don't even believe in borders
He already knows that, but he doesn't want YOU to know it isn't about D vs R, because that's the way he can keep control of you so you don't ask difficult questions.
Clearly this is coming from Asa himself who was angry and humiliated by TJ Bonner at that meeting were he dared called Asa's pathetic little crumb of OTM's being returned without a trial. (Which a border agent I know told me hasn't materialized yet, ha ha)and this underling had the gall to call his work "a baby step"
Asa is a good politician, in that he is a complete phoney who can pretend just like his fellow Arkansas pol to be the "nice guy" but this shows how ruthless he is. I was struck when referring to the sweeps that he said the border patrol had a good "supporting" role to play-which clearly said that his direction for them to keep the Cheap Labor shipping lanes open by direction of the top.
Your efforts are actually helping the GOP with tough love for them to avoid this TOTAL pandering to the Cheap Labor special interest of the party so that it doesn't lose the vast majority of its base.
Law enforcement unions have always been a split baby the members support conservative issues but when a union is getting decimated in its rights by a sweeping change like this, what do you expect them to do? It certainly is not smart of Homeland Security to do something like this just before an election. IMO most of the changes are not needed and are coveed by the smokescreen of National Security when the employees are doing the same job they always have.
As for the PATCO strike that was stupid on the union's part it might have worked under Carter but certainly not under Reagan...
http://www.socialistworker.org/2001/374/374_10_PATCO.shtml
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That's equal to 150 unprotected airline passenger planes.
They still let gun magz in at Wal Mart?
Sorry about the delay. Our electricity just went out. It is 103 degrees here so I guess we overloaded the system.
The article speaks of muzzling the border patrol. When you are muzzled, you can't speak. Therefore, I conclude this is freedom of speech.
Yes, I know about PATCO. These people were legally fired for striking illegally. My how times have changed. Now acting illegally is rewarded by suppressing the speech of those that act legally.
They are just arming themselves with weapons they know will function properly.
I share your frustration with Asa but he had nothing to do with the proposed changes to the regulations which were drafted at the DHS and OPM level.
The new regulations will make it easer to remove problem federal employees as it currently takes an act of God to fire them.
The changes are minimal and greatly needed. TJ is a union guy and its his job to appose anything that does not benefit the bargaining unit.
In this case he is using the whistle blower issue. What he fails to mention is that whistle blower protection is provided under a completely different section of law and will be unaffected by these changes.
I dunno, DHS is his territory, and the timing of this is more than suspicious.
The changes are minimal and greatly needed. TJ is a union guy and its his job to appose anything that does not benefit the bargaining unit.
I'm no union fan, but what are the changes? He's right when he says if you get fired from one of these jobs you'll never find a job in law enforcement again. You can talk all about how much of a whistle blower you were, but your resume is already in the can.
Another problem with this is a "whistle blower" isn't somebody who's just going to unearth a corruption scandle involving Asa and some illegal employment bribes or something, it could be something as minor as calling the John & Ken show and assuring them that Asa is lying about him not pressuring them. You don't get whistle blower status for that, apparently this fall you just get fired.
The proposed regulations allow the government to fire people for national security reasons under an expedited process; create new mandatory firing offenses and eliminate arbitration for removal.
The union will still be able to go to arbitration for disciplinary actions (suspensions under 15 days) and over pay and performance issues. They will not be able to use arbitration in what is referred to as adverse action cases, which are suspensions of 15 days to removal.
In adverse action cases the union can still represent the employee but the MSPB Merit Systems Protection Board will resolve the appeal. The MSPB is completely independent from the agencies they hear cases from and has been around for years. Supervisors and managers has always gone to MSPB if they get in trouble.
The union does not like the MSPB because management wins about 75% of the time whereas decisions by non-government arbitrators are well, arbitrary.
As for the mandatory firing offences they have not been announced yet but I predict they will come as no shock. They will be things like extortion, accepting bribes, deliberate release of national security information etc. Basically employees no one wants around. It wont be because someone spouts off on the John and Ken Show.
But spouting off on the John & Ken show could easily be construed as a release of national security information and no one would be the wiser. If they were, that person might be a martyr in some quarters, but who cares? After a few days, the guy's still fired, and the desired effect on Border Patrol has been accomplished by Asa Hutchinson.
The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, which always supports the wacky left.
The majority of members on the other hand, do not support Kerry.
Don't count on it.
You must admit, Asa is a pretty gay name.
Sheesh, that's pretty low of you bashing a name with a Biblical origin.
ASA m
Usage: Biblical, Jewish
Pronounced: AY-sa
Means "doctor" in Hebrew. This name was borne by a king of Judah in the Old Testament.
Don't mind me. I was drunk when I posted that. Got quite the headache right now.
I voted for Bush in the past but I don't think I'll be making that mistake again this time around, especially since I've finally opened my eyes to what he is doing to this nation.
Your not GW,are ya?
thanks for your comments,; i respect that you can call it as it is instead of adhering to a blind allegiance, as many sadly have. Scripture says "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge".
Blind loyalty to govt or to politicians has never been a 'conservative' or 'Christian' ideal, at least not one that i was ever taught. Your post gives me hope as I see more people realizing the truth.
Amen brother. Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
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