MINUTES FOR THE APRIL 19, 2000 MEETING OF
THE COUNCIL OF FEDERAL EEO AND CIVIL RIGHTS EXECUTIVES
Sponsor: Ms. Ana Ortiz, National Science Foundation (NSF)
President: Mr. Luther Santiful (Director, Department of the Army EEO Agency) opened the meeting at 10:10 am.
All members in attendance identified their agency and introduced themselves.
Dr. Wanda Ward, Deputy Assistant Director, Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) provided an overview of NSF diversity culture changes and initiatives.
There was considerable, "dynamic" discussion regarding agency policies on the topic of "Management/Supervisory EEO/Civil Rights Accountability." Potential solutions ranged from the implementation of new diversity plans and stronger EEO/Civil rights elements in performance standards, to top-down meetings between the agency director and senior management officials. The Department of Interior has increased the frequency of the face-to-face, diversity, reporting requirements for top management officials from quarterly to monthly.
Certain ancillary organizations are dissatisfied with agency practices regarding management offenders and believe that these offenders are neither sufficiently charged nor disciplined. Some members opined that offenders are being disciplined, but without inordinate external publicity. Some management offenders are avoiding punishment by retiring or resigning rather than submitting to disciplinary actions. Such situations are not normally publicized.
The progress on the accountability issue varies from agency to agency. However, general discussion seemed to indicate some small progress toward increased emphasis on EEO/Civil Rights management accountability.
Those present were provided the published testimony of Congressman Albert R. Wynn and EEOC Acting OFO Director, Carlton M. Hadden, before the March 29 hearing before the House Government Reform and Oversight Civil Service subcommittee regarding "EEO Data and Complaint Processing Problems." Additional testimony can be found on the Blacks in Government (BIG) website: www.bignet.org (testimony of BIG president, Gerald R. Reed in the "Presidents Corner," and the testimony of Mr. Michael Brostik, GAO, in the "National Programs" area).
Most council members indicated that testimony solicited from and provided by groups critical of agency EEO/Civil Rights processes and the EEOC was incomplete and unnecessarily biased. Members were in general agreement that some essential issues were not discussed (at the hearings) and pertinent questions were not asked.
It was agreed that the Council should send a letter to the Committee, detailing our concerns and requesting an opportunity to submit testimony on the part of agency EEO/Civil Rights professionals. Please provide any input that you wish to have included directly to Mr. Luther L. Santiful at santill@hqda.army.mil.
Members were requested to attend one of the upcoming EEOC town hall meetings. It was pointed out that too often mostly complainants and process detractors attend. Town hall details can be found on the EEOC website: www.eeoc.gov.
Updates regarding the Plaintiff’s Bar and FDR will be presented at the next Council meeting (yet to be determined).
There being no further business, Mr. Santiful adjourned the meeting at 11:45 am.