Bill would let seasonal feds compete for permanent jobs
- By FederalSoup Staff
- Mar 27, 2015
A House panel approved a bill would give seasonal federal workers at land management agencies full rights to compete for permanent federal jobs.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), is aimed at longtime temporary employees, such as seasonal wildland firefighters, who have consistently served as federal employees but who have lacked rights to compete internally for permanent positions.
The Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (H.R. 1531), which was unanimously passed by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, would authorize federal employees serving under time-limited appointments at land management agencies, such as temporary seasonal “1039” employees of the U.S. Forest Service, to compete for vacant permanent positions under internal merit promotion procedures at federal agencies.
The move would put those employees on equal competitive standing with permanent federal employees, and would apply to employees who work under temporary or term appointment at agencies within the departments of Agriculture and Interior, including the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Reclamation.
“These employees are terminated each season and often re-hired in subsequent seasons," said Connolly, who serves as ranking member of the oversight committee. "Because of their status, benefits and career advancement opportunities are limited. Our bipartisan legislation would put them on equal footing with other federal employees with respect to competing for vacant jobs in the civil service, including permanent seasonal jobs.”
Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) and Don Young (R-Alaska), the current and former chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, respectively, cosponsored the bill.
“This legislation would significantly reduce the costs associated with the high attrition rate in our nation’s temporary seasonal workforce, and enhance the pool of highly-qualified applicants that compete for permanent seasonal positions, Young noted.