Civil Service Commission pushes for govt employee benefits

“It’s time,” stated Herman Deleon Guerrero, chairman of the Civil Service Commission. “In fact, it’s long overdue. The austerity measures that have frozen salaries since 2001, with no annual or merit increases, no bonuses, have left government employees with no recognition of service or performance for 15 years.

Two years ago the commission was able to reinstate promotional increases for civil service employees. Since then the commission has been working with the administration to restart performance-based increases.”

Annual increases, termed Within-Grade increases (WGIs), are performance-based increases established as part of the current government compensation plan by Public Law 7-31. Alternating year bonuses, also based on performance, for employees at the top of their grade and not eligible for WGIs, are authorized by Public Law 11-59. Both were suspended by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in 2001 due to the lack of funding for the awards. The suspension has been continued by each subsequent governor.

Tinian commissioner Arsene Borja, Fiscal Committee chair for the commission, said, “Yes, the commission feels that the hardworking employees of the Commonwealth deserve recognition. The commission has included sufficient funding in its budget request for Fiscal Year 2017 that will provide a Within-Grade increase or a PL 11-59 bonus, both based on performance, for all deserving civil service employees. The proposed budget has been submitted and is now undergoing review. We are hoping the budget committee recognizes the importance of this item and agrees to its funding.”

According to Deleon Guerrero, “The commission has discussed its concerns regarding this 15-year salary stagnation with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres in a recent meeting. The governor shares our concerns and, with his staff, has also been looking at ways to provide fair compensation treatment to deserving government employees. We’re confident that the governor and his Special Assistant for Management and Budget, Ms. Virginia Villagomez, are supportive of our efforts and will do their best to help us get these increases going again for our civil service employees for FY 2017 and future years. We also met with and discussed our concerns and efforts with Speaker of the House Ralph Demapan, Vice Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero, and the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Antonio Sablan. All were strongly supportive.”

“The commission feels that this is a very important issue for our civil service employees. We will keep working with the Administration on reinitiating these increases. It’s time.”

The Civil Service Commission is the independent CNMI government agency that is responsible for representing government employees, hearing, and resolving employee grievances and appeals, and overseeing the operation of the Office of Personnel Management. The present Commission has been active since its reforming in December 2012.