JwJ & Federal Workers Beat Back the NSPS Attack!

Statewide Actions to Support Our Veterans & Defense Workers


Rally with JwJ, AFGE,
and the King & Pierce County Labor Councils
on Wednesday, August 31st

  • 4 to 5:30 pm, Rep. Dave Reichert's Mercer Island Office (2737 78th Ave SE)

  • 4:30 to 6 pm, Sen. Maria Cantwell's Tacoma Office (950 Pacific Avenue)

Don't Use the War to Attack Workers! President Bush is trying to strip away a voice for truth, real national security, veterans' rights, and troop safety. Right now, Bush is trying to do this to 750,000 federal workers at Madigan Hospital, Fort Lewis, McChord, and all other Department of Defense facilities nationwide.

Rally with us outside Rep. Reichert's and Sen. Cantwell's offices while delegations of faith, community, and labor leaders are meeting inside with them.

What we can do on Wednesday, August 31 if you can't rally?

  • Contact Sen. Cantwell & Rep. Reichert. Tell them to scrap NSPS:
         *Real national security includes workers' rights
         *Our troops and democracy deserve defense workers with a free voice
         *Our veterans deserve living wage jobs

  • Thank Sen. Murray, and Representatives Inslee, Larsen, Baird, Dicks, McDermott, and Smith, but URGE them to take a stronger and more vocal stand against NSPS. We want all of Washington State's Congressional leaders to be publicly opposed and pushing to stop implementation of this vicious personnel system.

  • Forward this email to people who live in Representative Reichert, Hastings, or McMorris' districts (or anyone else in Washington State for Senator Cantwell) and encourage them to make a phone call or send an email.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Real National Security includes workers' rights

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Stop the National Security Personnel System!

I was alarmed to hear that the federal government is attempting to dismantle the civil service system one department at a time!

The Bush Administration's proposed National Security Personnel System is a slap in the face to our civilian Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security workers who keep our nation secure.

**Real national security includes workers' rights**

**Our troops and democracy deserve defense workers with a free voice**

**Our veterans deserve living wage jobs**

Please raise your voice in Congress to stop implementation of NSPS and defend the independence of our civilian federal workers.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
August 26, 2005


Background Information

The Bush Administration is now imposing on 750,000 Defense workers a plan called the "National Security Personnel System" (NSPS). A federal court just declared illegal this same plan imposed on 170,000 Homeland Security workers. NSPS would tear up union contracts and eliminate the protections that federal workers have against political pressures. Those who toe the line would get raises, but workers who speak out to defend programs like veterans' healthcare or troop safety, or expose wacky intelligence, could find themselves transferred half-way around the world, in combat locations, or fired. Backdoor Draft?

The Bush Administration has also already announced its plans to impose the NSPS model on all other federal workers . . . which means that the government would have a green light for going after state, county, and city employees next. We cannot allow these attacks on workers to continue! 

That's why 35 Unions have formed the United DoD Workers Coalition, many in Congress are speaking out, local Faith and Community leaders are taking action, and we're asking your help to get other silent Congressional leaders to stop these attacks on federal workers.

For more information, contact your local JwJ office: Seattle - (206) 441-4969 wsjwj@igc.org; Tacoma - 253-459-5107 southsound@wsjwj.org. To download a copy of the Mercer Island rally flyer, please click here.