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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-7316
In an era of smaller and more efficient government, the
Clinton Administration reaffirmed its commitment to veterans' preference in
federal hiring practices by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today
at the Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.
The MOU between the Labor Department and the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) was signed by Preston M. Taylor, Jr., assistant
secretary of labor for veterans' employment and training, and James B. King,
director of OPM. The agreement strengthens the working relationship between the
two agencies and assures that veterans receive the hiring and job advancement
opportunities guaranteed them by law.
According to the agreement, the Labor Department, through
the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, will guide the 2,872 veterans'
employment representatives located in local job service offices across the
country. The representatives will make sure that veterans are aware of federal
job openings and report to OPM any complaints of failure by government agencies
to provide veterans' preference.
OPM will ensure that all job service offices are aware of
and implement veterans' preference regulations and thoroughly investigate and
take corrective action on all unresolved complainants.
"This agreement will strengthen the rights of veterans to
continue to serve their country as civilians in government service," said
Taylor. "The many skills and experiences gained in military service have long
contributed to efficient and effective government."
"Veterans' preference is an earned benefit and will remain
an integral part of the civil service's merit system," said King.
"Many veterans, especially disabled veterans, have
traditionally experienced difficulty in the transition into civilian life.
Veterans' preference in government jobs is critically important in this time of
military rightsizing," said Ronald Drach, executive director of the Disabled
American Veterans.
Veterans comprise about 28 percent of the federal work
force or about 560,000 people. Veterans' preference has been a part of
government hiring regulations since 1944 when the Veterans' Preference Act was
enacted.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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