By Jesse Russell

A coalition of defense department union locals' known as DEFCON, issued a vote of no confidence against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday. The local union offices are part of the American Federation of Government Employees and the vote follows a decision by the Defense Department to appeal a federal judge's ruling against Rumsfeld over proposed personnel regulations. A judge had ruled that the new rules would blunt collective bargaining, eliminate fair appeals for disciplinary action and quells the voice of workers. The resolution states that Rumsfeld broke promises to both Congress and workers that the new system would respect collective bargaining and prevent favoritism.