Posted on 09/22/2017 4:19:35 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
More than a month ago we talked about the problems that VA Secretary David Shulkin was having in attempting to fire delinquent D.C. medical center Director Brian Hawkins. The soon-to-be ex-employee was in charge of a center where unsanitary conditions were placing the lives of veterans under his care at risk. On top of that, sensitive VA documents had been sent to his private email server (wait… am I the only person on the planet without a private server?) along with various other irregularities.
After being placed in an administrative position during an investigation, Shulkin moved to implement new policies put in place by the President and fired Hawkins. That didn’t last long because, as a member of the Senior Executive Service, he was able to appeal his firing to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) which almost immediately ordered that he be given his job back.
More time has passed and a new law dealing with handling such administrative actions is on the books. With those tools in hand, Shulkin has made good on his promise and fired Hawkins yet again.
The law in question is the Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act which the President signed in July. It allows for faster reviews in disciplinary cases, particularly for SES (Senior Executive Service) level leaders. In the past it could take months or even years to remove delinquent federal workers, even if they were found guilty of serious crimes. Thanks to the MSPB, one quick appeal could keep them on the payroll indefinitely.
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
If I correctly understand this, Mr. Hawkins could still come back, if the "newly formed internal board" so rules. In other words, he is still not "fired" as the average person would understand the term.
“If I correctly understand this, Mr. Hawkins could still come back, if the “newly formed internal board” so rules. In other words, he is still not “fired” as the average person would understand the term.”
Yeah, the only way to fix this problem and others in the federal government for that matter would be for Trump to rescind JFK’s EO Authorizing fed employees to unionize. Btw, if you’re wigndering why it’s been allowed to continue for so long; keep in mind that about the only people that utilize the VA are lowly enlisted about E-5 and below. Typically, senior grade officers and NCO’s are retired and thereby authorized to utilize military hospitals and health care which is far superior to the VA system. Officers who don’t stay in typically are college grads and go in to good paying corporate jobs which invariably provide good medical coverage. So consequently those remaining vets who go to the VA are the poorly educated with no money and no clout. Example; Someone should ask McCain if he’s ever utilized VA medical care. Sarc/
That would be a start. I wonder why he doesn't do so. Wouldn't that be the sort of "swamp-draining" measure he promised during the campaign?
CEO’s always have grand dreams that end up settling into mediocrity. After WW2, we tried to eliminate Nazis from all government positions but found they were the only people who could do the work.
The swamp has rules in place to prevent draining.
Excellent points.
“That would be a start. I wonder why he doesn’t do so. Wouldn’t that be the sort of “swamp-draining” measure he promised during the campaign?”
My guess is the reason Trump won’t do it is because federal unions have become too powerful. We’re talking about all of the alphabet agencies such as the VA, IRS, FBI, DEA, SSA, IRA, ATF, GSA, etc, etc, on and on. Talk about stuck pigs squealing! Personally, I would be in for it. Reagan did it with the Air Controllers. And, the country survived just fine. But, Trump has a lot on his plate right now. This would be a good late second term project though.
I appreciate your input. I got a job right out of the service and always used my regular benefits. I just never felt it right to hit the VA up for anything. I had no VA compensation issue.
However, I agree with Trump, we as a nation owe these folks, some that were drafted back into the day with your eternal gratitude for their service. McCain, has milked his status long enough.
How Reagan handled the PATCO strike in 1981 was a defining moment. It was well known that unionized federal employees were committing a crime if they went out on strike. The unions of letter carriers and postal clerks has used that ploy effectively during their collective bargaining negotiations.
I remember one air traffic control supervisor commenting about those that had crossed the picket line to come in and work the center that day - "Those that came to work today, came to work."
A few years later, I was talking with a former PATCO member. He got fired with the rest of them that did not cross the line. He did not see it coming, and it ruined his life at the time.
Reagan took all of the fire out of the threat to strike by unionized federal employees. He changed the day.
A small step would be to let Federal employees opt-out of paying union dues and eliminate payment collections by the Federal government.
Disrupt the cash flow.
Make union members write a check for their dues.
New duties - Latrine detail, get down there and clean it up!
PLO. Permanent latrine orderly
Yes, those would be good policies.
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