Posted: January 19, 2006

FEW RELEASES POSITION ON WORKING FOR AMERICA ACT

The federal government should consult with non-union organizations when constructing new personnel systems, the Federally Employed Women recommended in a position paper on the Working for America Act.

FEW released the paper Wednesday and delivered a copy to every member of Congress.

"FEW has always supported changes that make the federal government more efficient and effective, however, we have some recommendations for legislators in the Congress to consider as they debate this proposed initiative," said FEW President Patricia Wolfe.

In the paper, FEW suggests:

• Implementing the Act in phases
  
  
• Initiating pay changes first
  
  
• Consulting with non-union groups
  
  
• Adhering to equal opportunity laws

"Our position paper also addresses the pay-for-performance proposal," said FEW Vice President for Congressional and Governmental Relations Rhonda Trent . "While we support, in concept, a pay-for-performance system, certain parameters must be met and included before any agency should more forward in implementation."

The parameters include:

• Putting safeguards in place that ensure the pay system is managed fairly
  
  
• Communicating transparently with employees, employee representatives, managers and other stakeholders

FEW is a non-profit organization founded in 1968 after the issuance of Executive Order 11375, which added sex discrimination to the list of prohibited discrimination in the federal government. FEW serves more than one million federally-employed women from both the military and civilian workforce.

Read FEW's position paper (PDF)