June 2007: The SEC needs a Career Enhancement Program. “Career Enhancement” refers to a form of “upward mobility” program designed to afford the opportunity to SEC employees to expand upon their career and promotional potential through a systematic, planned approach to training and career progression. Such a program would benefit everyone concerned. Lower-graded employees would receive the opportunity to advance and realize their full potential. Management officials would be enabled to more fully utilize the talents and capabilities of their employees. The SEC would be supporting diversity, while simultaneously encouraging those employees who are willing to work hard to advance themselves at the agency.

NTEU has long supported the adoption of a Career Enhancement Program by the SEC, but it has faced strong and steady opposition from senior management. When the union negotiated the first Collective Bargaining Agreement, the SEC agreed to form a joint labor-management committee to develop such a program. However, after that committee fulfilled its charge and delivered a modest program, it was rejected out of hand by SEC Executive Director Jim McConnell.

During the current CBA negotiations, the SEC’s position does not appear to have changed significantly. NTEU’s bargaining team has consistently pushed for the adoption of such a program, and hopes that the management team will agree.

Affording lower-graded SEC employees a finite number of Career Enhancement slots is the right thing to do. The SEC should support NTEU’s efforts to fulfill this important goal.