Federal Daily - November 12, 2009

New Effort Would Ramp Up Federal Employment of Vets

President Obama on Nov. 9 announced the launch of an initiative designed to make the federal government a “model employer” of military veterans. Among other things, the executive order signed by Obama creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment that will advise the president and the Office of Personnel Management on veterans’ hiring issues.

The order also establishes a Veterans Employment Program office within most federal agencies, which will help vets identify employment opportunities. The new offices will also provide feedback to vets about their employment application status and help recently employed veterans adjust to their new workplace culture.

“This initiative is about more than repaying our debt for their courageous service and selfless sacrifice,” Obama said. “It’s also about continuing to fill the ranks of federal employees with men and women who possess the skills, dedication and sense of duty that Americans deserve from their public servants.”

As part of the initiative, OPM will issue a government-wide strategic plan that will focus on creating leadership and an infrastructure in each agency to promote employment success for veterans.

The strategic plan will also include marketing strategies aimed at agency hiring managers as well as veterans and transitioning servicemembers, the order said. At the end of Fiscal Year 2008, there were approximately 480,000 veterans working within the federal government.

To see more, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/president-obama-launches-major-veterans-employment-initiative.

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Seeing Photos of Top Staff in USPS Org Chart, Union Leader Decries Lack of Diversity

Sometimes pictures—or the lack of them—are worth a thousand words.

When American Postal Workers Union President William Burrus received a copy of the official organizational chart of Postal Service executive staff, complete with photos, what he saw inspired him to dash off a letter to the Postal Service Board of Governors.

Of the 43 people whose photos populate the org chart, all but a scant handful are white.

In the letter to the Board of Governors, posted on the APWU Web site on Nov. 6, Burrus wrote he was “deeply troubled” by the lack of diversity in the USPS executive staff.

“Although the nation has made significant progress toward equality, it appears that the USPS remains mired in the Dark Ages,” Burrus wrote.

“It is inexcusable that women and people of color have been relegated to such a small role in the managerial structure, especially considering the fact that the workforce at-large is so much more reflective of the population,” he said.

Burrus asked the board to address the issue, but the union said he has yet to receive an answer.

To see more, go to: www.apwu.org/news/webart/2009/09-137-bog-diversity-091106.htm

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