By Timothy D. Allport
September 5, 2004

Like most Americans, I commend the troops on the front lines during this difficult time in our nation's history. It is my hope, however, that more people come to remember those of us standing on the second line - federal employees.

We respond to national emergencies, protect the borders, enforce the laws, operate the nation's prisons, deliver the mail, protect historic sites and national parks, support military operations, protect the food and water supply, administer and run essential government programs.

Most federal employees diligently perform the duties expected of them.

Yet, this administration has effectively declared war on the civil service system and refueled antigovernment sentiment. Legislation to outsource and privatize government jobs is in full gear, so corporations can get richer and career positions become low-paying service jobs.

The recent disturbance at the private prison in Crowley County should serve as a wake up call for state government officials who would put money before security. Government-run prisons are certainly not immune to violence, but prisons, like other government agencies, are not corporations. I know in the federal prison system the public gets what they pay for. We are probably the most well-trained correctional workers in the world and the largest correctional system in the United States. Our record speaks for itself. Our correctional institutions generally run very smoothly. That is one reason why the public is largely unaware of what has been happening.

Collective bargaining and labor laws have been trashed under the guise of national security. Agency budgets are dangerously underfunded and morale is low. Overrtime pay and maybe our retirement systems are being threatened. Reduction-in-force notices have been sent to thousands of employees. A hiring freeze is in place and mandatory overtime is burning out our staff.

The problem of understaffing within the Internal Revenue Service has quickly become a governmentwide concern and the public needs to understand the implications. By the time News readers see this, our union will be airing a radio ad on several local stations, and, on Sept. 21, we intend to hold an informational picket.

And what we want all Americans to know is that federal employees have been treated like a threat to national security even though we are national security.

Timothy D. Allport is the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 709 at the Federal Correctional Institution Englewood in unincorporated Jefferson County.