Colleen Kelley Quotations

We're asking that they reconsider this entire sham, ... The system is not fair, it is not credible and it is not transparent. . . . From the very earliest drafts, it was clear that this system was nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to severely restrict employee rights and to concentrate power in the hands of the managers. . . . NTEU and the employees at the DHS need to be involved in the development of this system.

I was pleased with the immediate response from DHS and welcomed the opportunity to sit down with Deputy Secretary Jackson, ... He indicated a desire to work with NTEU in the future and listened to my suggestions on how to proceed. NTEU will continue our efforts to achieve a personnel process that helps accomplish the multiple missions of the department while respecting the rights of federal employees.

If the administration doesn't do that, people will look to Congress to do something.

What we do support is anything that would fall into the town's master plan. The mayor has said he is committed to rebuilding the town's villages. We will support plans that are in keeping with that.

We made known our differences at that time, and since then, through our determined and thus far successful legal actions against the department's regressive personnel rules.

Staggering increases in the price of gas are having serious ripple effects throughout the economy and forcing employees to dip into their own packets to cover the costs of fuel. This is an untenable situation for these workers.

Management has taken the position that they will make unilateral decisions without any real opportunity for employees to put in a re-quest.

We don't see how DHS can move forward with a scheme that was chopped full of holes.

We'd like to see a pharmacy there, but not one that will take up half of the Landing. We support the existing stores that are still there. As space becomes available, we'd like to see a small bank, bakery or another type of restaurant there. We'd like to see something small fit into those vacant shops.

The governments continuing refusal to negotiate is proof that these illegal regulations were designed to eliminate collective bargaining.

We will be identifying projects, as we did at the IRS, where the presence of contractors is resulting in higher costs, poor quality service, or privacy concerns for taxpayers.

The private sector wants quality people, and it is willing to go after them. Competitive pay by federal agencies is an imperative.

These lower-premium plans can mask hidden costs for federal employees, ... The cheaper premium is usually coupled with higher deductibles, meaning federal workers will simply pay higher out-of-pocket costs or avoid visiting the doctor.

An increase of 8 cents a mile, while better than leaving the reimbursement rate untouched, falls far short of what needs to be done to help people who must travel to perform the duties of their jobs.

A larger increase for military families clearly is in order. So too, however, is a larger increase for the men and women of the government's civilian workforce.

American taxpayers can no longer have the confidence that federal tax collections are not based on personal gain. Americans believe certain governmental functions should not be farmed out to for-profit companies and this is clearly one.

I hope that the administration and DHS management take a good hard look at the results of today's ranking and make the connection that an engaged workforce is necessary to an effective department,

I'm pleased to see that DHS agrees that it is nowhere near ready to begin moving on this unwise proposal. As we said from the beginning, any personnel system, including a pay system, has to be fair, credible and transparent to have any chance to succeed. The system DHS is proposing is none of that.

I had the opportunity to meet with NTEU-represented CBP employees at Blaine the day before this dangerous incident. They expressed to me their frustration about the continuing denial of LEO status . . . I commend these brave officers for their role in apprehending dangerous murder suspects, and call on Congress to expeditiously approve H.R. 1002 and recognize that CBP officers are indeed federal law enforcement officers.

I'm certainly going to encourage people to keep going to meetings and calling their councilors with their concerns and questions to make sure we get the best project we can get.

In this technological age, and with security such a vital concern, it is critical that the federal government use all the tools at its disposal to attract and retain the high-quality employees the public wants and expects it to have. Fair and competitive pay clearly is a major component in that competition.

It has long been clear to NTEU and many others that most taxpayers want to comply with the tax code, but they need help to do that. Cutting off that help will not increase compliance.

Because DoD contracts out by far the most federal work to private companies, it is especially critical that these provisions be applied to DoD.

The first order of business for a new CBP commissioner should be to listen to front-line employees about ways to make our nation's border safer.