IFPTE Local 777

The USACE recently announced that it plans to move all General Schedule workers to a new pay system called “AcqDemo” (short for the Department of Defense Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project).

The short version of this is that it is a so-called “pay for performance” system, where instead of the General Schedule with set grades (set by the complexity of the job) and steps (set by the employee’s time in grade), there are pay bands and employee’s salaries are set somewhere within the band on initial conversion/appointment, and then annual raises are determined as part of the performance process (DPMAP).

IFPTE has experience with such systems. In the G.W. Bush Administration, the DoD implemented the “National Security Personnel System” which operated on a similar model. Our colleagues at IFPTE Local 259 at Memphis District have already transitioned to AcqDemo, and colleagues (including Local 777 Associate Members) have worked/are working under a similar system called “LabDemo” at the Engineer Research & Development Center.

Right now, the proposal is still in its early stages, so it is premature to start bargaining over the changes. However, the USACE is setting up a “Transition Team” and IFPTE has demanded a seat on the team for labor; and has suggested IFPTE Local 777 President Colin Smalley to fill that seat.

Please reach out to an IFPTE officer or advocate, if you have questions or thoughts about AcqDemo.