European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 27, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Sunday May 27, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 3bill would protect transferred Naf workers from Page 1 sick leave and would have the option of remaining in their old retirement plan or starting the retirement plan under the new system. After employees choose a retirement plan they would stay under that plan for their entire careers regardless of How Many times they shifted Between Naf and civil service employment. The Bill also covers civil service workers who arc shifted to Naf positions said Frank Cipolla the Pentagon a civilian personnel policy chief. He estimated that about 2,000 such employees will be affected during the current mar reorganization. This includes employees of Golf courses and military clubs which have been supported with appropriated funds. The activities arc expected to become self supporting As non appropriated fund entities. But the portability Issue is not As critical for those employees since the Pentagon has the authority to adjust its own regulations to accommodate transfers from the civil service work Force to Naf positions. Leathus Bill would be made retroactive to Jan. I 1987, the Date that Congress enacted the first significant reorganization of morale welfare and recreation funding. That Means those who transferred Between the Naf and civil service systems since that Date would have their lost pay and benefits restored a Lealh aide said adding that the estimated number of such employees is Small. The administration s office of personnel management supports the plan although technical details Over some aspects of the retirement provisions such As employer contributions to the different retirement systems must be finalized. Rep. Gary Ackerman d-., chairman of the House Post office civil service subcommittee on compensation and employee benefits also voiced support for the Bill and promised to push it Forward. The Bill May not be approved by oct. I. But the Leath aide said anyone who switches systems before the Bill becomes Law would be covered by its retroactive Law change losses would be heavy by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington a a non appropriated fund worker who transfers to the civil service either involuntarily or by Choice stands to lose thousands of dollars in pay and other hard earned benefits without a change in the Law. At a congressional hearing wednesday on a Bill that would allow Naf employees to keep their current pay and benefits when they make the switch the Pentagon a civilian personnel policy chief offered a Stark example. Frank Cipolla used a hypothetical employee is. A a base librarian with 20 years of non appropriated fund service 20 years invested in a Naf retirement plan and 1,800 hours of unused sick leave. If is. X converted to the civil service system she could withdraw her contributions to the Naf retirement plan or leave them in for a deferred annuity. But she would see a substantial Long term loss in the value of her pension from having to Start Over again in mid career. She also would lose every bit of her accumulated sick leave. What a More while she would stay in Grade she would have to Start Over Al i be lowest step for that Grade in the civil service system if she were at a ua-9 Grade step 10, she would Transfer to a gs-9 but would be reduced to step 1 a which would amount to an immediate pay Cut of $7,400 per year. Is. X would be at the same desk performing the same Job but would be treated under current Law As a new employee just entering the Federal work Force Cipolla said. Quot As can be appreciated from this example Liis Long term Federal employee would suffer very substantial financial hardship Quot he bans radiation exposed foods Oak Brook 111. Apr Mcdonald a corp. On Friday declared that it has not and will not buy or serve irradiated food products to applause from a food purity group and an order of roman Catholic nuns. Mcdonald a announced its ban on radiation exposed foods at its annual shareholders meeting in this Chicago suburb. The fast food giant also reaffirmed its policy of using Only locally produced and processed beef. A we do not have not and will not Purchase beef from rain Forest or recently deforested rain Forest land a Mcdonald a said in a statement. A this policy is strictly enforced and closely the statement on irradiated foods came in response to a Resolution filed last fall by a coalition of the company a shareholders requesting a clarification of corporate policy on the Issue said Christina Roussler of food amp water inc., a new York based food purity group. The Resolution was written by the dominican Sisters of Adrian mich., and the dominican Sisters of the sick poor in Ossining . Both orders have holdings in Mcdonald a. A this move reflects an important commitment to food safety and to our Consumers. Mcdonald s is the first restaurant to establish this farsighted policy a sister Pat Day of the dominican Sisters said at the meeting. Irradiation exposing foodstuffs a especially meats a to radioisotopes such As Cobalt 60 and cerium 137, has been proposed As a food preservation method since at least the Early 1960s. Proponents say the technique reduces the need for potentially dangerous chemical preservatives Lowers refrigeration costs and leaves no harmful radiation in the food. Opponents say it can leave Trace radioactivity or harmful residues in food. The food and drug administration approved irradiation May i Tor the treatment of commercially sold poultry. A holing up during a Lull in Street Battles a shiite moslem amal militiaman leads a child to safety across the Bullet scarred alleys of South Beirut on saturday. The syrian army intervened to end 15 hours of fighting Between amal and the pro iranian Hezbollah or party of god that killed five people and wounded 42. Japan so honest apologies should be accepted Roh says Seoul South Korea apr president Roh Tae woo said saturday that a no amount of apology can be fully satisfactory for Japan s colonization of Korea but he called Japan a expressions of regret the basis Tor a new relationship. Roh made the comment on his return from a three Day trip to Japan during which he invited emperor Akihito to make the first japanese Imperial visit to South Korea. The invitation came after Akihito expressed regret for Japan a brutal colonial Rule Over Korea from 1910 to 1945, and after japanese prime minister Toshiki Kaifu also offered a honest apologies Quot for korean suffering during the colonial period. _ Roh upon his arrival in Seoul said it was time Lor the two countries to put the past behind them. A even if we May feel that the japanese apologies do not fully live up to our expectations we should accept them with magnanimity and generosity now that Japan has forthrightly admitted its mistakes a he said at an Airport news conference. During the colonial period Japan tried to stifle korean culture by Banning koreans from learning their language and forcing them to adopt japanese names. Tens of thousands of koreans were killed after being pressed into the japanese War Effort. A i Well understand what feelings my fellow countrymen have about what went on Between our country and Japan in the past. No amount of apology can be fully satisfactory a Roh said. Before Roh left for Japan Radical students in Korea and some elderly koreans who suffered through the japanese colonial period demonstrated against the visit. One protester attempted suicide by slitting his belly in front of the japanese embassy in Seoul. But Many koreans said Steps by Japan to Clear up current sore Points were More important than apologizing for the past. There arc unresolved disputes Over discrimination against koreans living in Japan Aid to koreans who remain displaced after being forcibly removed from their Homeland to perform wartime labor for Japan and assistance to korean survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Roh said he had asked Japan to move Forward on these issues and expressed satisfaction with the Progress made so far. About 20.000 police were mobilized in Tokyo to provide Security for Roh during his three Day slate visit. But no violence was reported. Rolls visit to Tokyo was Only the second by a South korean head of state since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1965. Rolls predecessor Chun Doo Hwan visited Japan in 1984. The Centrepiece of Roll s visit was the thursday night state banquet at which Akihito expressed Quot deepest regret for the us he ring that koreans endured at japanese hands. Kaifu offered his a sincere remorse and honest apologies Quot and said Good relations Between Japan and Korea Are a basis for peace in the Region. Roh extended the invitation to Akihito and Empress Michiko to visit South Korea during a Short meeting with the emperor on saturday at the Akasaka slate Guesthouse said a Palace official who spoke on condition of anonymity. _ Akihito who assumed the throne after the death o his father emperor Hirohito will not travel abroad until after his official Coronation on nov. 12. The Coronation is traditionally delayed by a year of mourning for the deceased emperor. Akihito would be the first emperor to visit South Korea since its creation after Japan a defeat in world War ii. Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Taizo Wata Nab said Kaifu had also accepted an invitation from Roh to visit South Korea at a mutually convenient time
