European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 5, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday february 5,1993 the stars and stripes b Page 3german opposition to fight sofa changes by de Reavis staff writer a new agreement governing nato forces  fails to address the discrimination faced by germans who work for the allies Germany a main opposition party says. Albrecht Muller a parliamentarian in the social democratic party said officials never addressed such problems when they recently negotiated a new supplement to the nato status of forces agreement. Quot do you think americans working with the German air Force in Arizona would accept less labor Protection than americans working for the american air Force a Muller asked. The new agreement was negotiated Over the past 16 months. It is not legally binding until ratified by Germany Belgium Canada France the Netherlands the United kingdom and the United states. The supplement deals with 83 areas such As Drivers licenses vehicle registration right of Access judicial issues air and land Maneu vers value added tax labor postal services telecommunications banking and customs. . Officials have said the proposed changes would have Little Impact on americans daily lives . Muller said one area of discrimination is the allies firing practices. Such practices done to provide As much Protection As a German employee would Nave with the German armed forces he said. Quot although the government was Able to make a number of improvements in the agreement they have failed to make the changes that would have made us equal partners with the allies a Muller said. To overcome such problems the social democrats plan to pressure the government to make the changes during the scheduled review of the a revised agreement in 1995, Miiller said. In Germany the revisions must pass both houses of parliament a the bundestag and bundesrat a to take effect officials said. The government has a comfortable majority in the bundestag the lower House but can be outvoted in the bundesrat the upper House. Muller said he doubted his party would Block the agreement in the upper House. Quot but i expect my party will put so much pressure on the government in the lower House that it will agree to improve army flip Flop no bands yet for household goods by Crystal Laureano staff writer the army in Europe has retracted an announcement saying army contracted movers Are required to place Metal bands around shipping containers for household goods at a customers residence. A statement announcing measures to prevent theft of personal property was distributed to news Media last month but was later retracted by Isar eur said command spokeswoman Millie Waters. She could not explain the reversal. However several Community newspapers bulletins and the american forces network had already reported the information. Usa eur officials have submitted a proposal to the department of the army that would require carriers to place Metal bands around household goods containers at the owners residence. Two bands would be placed horizontally and two vertically on the Large crates in which packed boxes and furniture Are shipped. Also packing agents would provide an engraving tool for owners to sign the Metal bands Waters said. But the proposal has not yet been approved one said. The proposed Security measures follow reports of substantial thefts of personal property after household goods were packed and removed from a residence by government contracted firms. In two instances in the past year one in Bremerhaven Germany and one in Nairn Borg Germany soldiers were surprised to find their own property for Sale at Flea markets after inc goods had been picked up for shipment to the states. In october 1992, officials with the . Air forces in Europe said the command had changed its policy for dealing with firms responsible for the loss of service members household goods. Safe now suspends contractors when a local transportation office receives reports of losses of $100 or More in a household goods shipment. Firms remain suspended until the problem is remedied. The policy was prompted by two reports of theft of household goods shipment belonging to air Force officers moving to the states an official said in october. The value of goods taken in the thefts was estimated at $20,000 and $36,000. At the time Waters said the army in Europe supported the initiatives but could not say whether Usa eur would adopt the same measures. The banding proposal is the first announced step by the army in Europe to prevent such  of pact social democratic party s main complaints about revision to status of forces agreement supplement. A German negotiators did t have German Chancellor s full support. A Germany remains limited in its sovereignty. A planned review of changes in january 1995 won t be effective. A allies resisted full compliance with German environmental standards. A germans missed Chance to abolish tax privileges for allies. A a pact does t Stop allies from converting German Job slots to Allied slots. A German troops in Allied countries did t get same rights As allies . A pact seals Germany s Fate As Allied support base. A German workers on Allied bases did not get full German labor Protection. The condition of German workers on Allied bases when it reviews the pact in january 1995.�?� Miiller has issued a 10-Point criticism of the proposed revisions to the new agreement which negotiators announced two weeks ago. Miiller criticized German Chancellor a Helmut Kohl for not putting his full weight behind the German negotiators to achieve better results. Quot on the contrary a Miiller said Quot he went out of his Way to Tell the allies that he had no intention of even discussing curtailing tax privileges the Allied forces  despite Mill cry a assertions a Diplomat with inc foreign ministry defended the proposed agreement calling it a Quot non issues with the German people. Quot the German government has reached an agreement with its allies in a spirit of Compromise a said the Diplomat. Quot we achieved All that could be achieved in fairness. The criticism by Miiller is without any basis in  following the announcement of details of the revision the Diplomat said the government expected to be overwhelmed by queries from the German Media. However nothing of the sort happened. Quot no one called or inquired a the Diplomat said Quot apparently there Are so Many problems facing the germans that this is a non-issue.143 workers at cafes get Bonus to retire Early Byra Crowden Washington Bureau Washington a one Hundred employees with the army and air Force Exchange service each received $25,000 As part of an Early retire mint plan that took effect last month according to an Exchange official. An additional 43 employees received smaller amounts As the military retail Chain moved quickly after receiving approval to proceed with incentives As part of the fiscal 1993 military budget. The incentives Are aimed at reducing defense department civilian workers As the services draw  was unclear How Many cafes employees in Europe were involved. Most of the retirements took effect Jan. 15, two Days after the Agency got Pentagon approval cafes officials said. Bonuses were calculated under a formula based on salary and years of service with a $25,000 Cap. Pentagon sources indicated cafes May find about 700 More people on its payroll than it needs Over the next three years. Some of those employees could be offered separation bonuses. Cafes officials would not project future manpower figures or cuts or discuss any plans to offer the incentive to More employees. Quot it is a tool we will consider in 1993 in our efforts to avoid a major reduction in Force a said Michael Cunningham the Exchange services top personnel official. Discussing the incentives Cunningham said Quot a fest top management went to Bat to get the Early retirement incentive for our employees. We were one of the first Dod agencies to develop an Early retirement incentive plan and we were the first to receive Dod approval to implement  the Agency took applications from eligible employees while waiting for approval to use the incentives officials said. Exchange service officials estimate the Agency will save $27 million As a result of the 143 retirements Cunningham said. The retirees included food managers service managers buyers general managers computer specialists personnel managers and financial management specialists officials said. In keeping with Pentagon guidelines eligible workers fit Quot Early retirement criteria which include those with 25 years of continuous service and those 50 and older with 20 years of continuous service. Officials said Normal retirement is available to those age 62 with five years of continuous service. Early retirement is available to employees at age 60 for those with 20 years of service or 55 with 30 years of service. Another retirement option allows those age 52 with five years of service to leave but reduces benefits by 4 percent for each year under 62. The Pentagon has authorized the Exchange service to use Early retirement incentives through  teens by Dave Melancon Wurzburg Bureau Wurzburg Germany a teens who want More fashionable clothing and a wider selection of popular music available at the Wurzburg Exchange May get to have their say. The possibility of naming a student to full membership on the Community Exchange Council was discussed at the Wurzburg Community teen town Hall meeting of tuesday. About 60 teens from the Wurzburg and Kitzinger communities met with 30 Community officials and local school administrators during the hour Long question and answer session. It. Col. Stephen a. Shambach commander of the 417th base support in moderated the discussions. A voice in what cafes offers teens told Dee Smelley cafes Wurzburg area District manager that the selection of compact discs at the exchanges was inadequate and that clothes Are Quot a Bunch of old lady dresses a in the wrong sizes for teens and Are too expensive. Quot i would love to buy everything that every student wants a Smelley said. Quot All i can do is take your suggestions. If you can give us the Brand names of what you want ill try to get  As the discussion progressed a participant suggested that a High school student attend the Community pm Council meeting. Smelley said that students Are Welcome but despite trying several different times the meeting interfered with school. Ltd Quot it is a lesson in democracy a said Bob Kubarek Wurzburg american High school principal. Quot if the parents Are willing id give excused absences for something like that. Mixing younger and older teens at activities was another hot topic. Currently trips dances and other activities offered by the Community Are open to All teens. Quot we got a lot of students who Are 16, 17 and 18 who do not want to hang around with 14 and 15-year-Olds,�?� one older teen girl said. Quot Why can to we come up with activities for our age group a some younger teens countered that they do not want to hang around with the older teens. The Community will consider holding separate activities Shambach said. However teens must show by their attendance to the activities that the events Are Worth the expense and Effort he said