Posted on 11/20/2012 11:25:03 PM PST by Abiotic
The Federal-Postal Coalition -- a group representing more than two dozen federal employee unions -- pleaded with Congress on Monday to spare their members in any deal related to the "fiscal cliff."
Federal workers, the coalition wrote in a letter, have contributed more than their fair share toward reducing the debt and are the only group that has been targeted so heavily.
“Federal and postal employees and their families are hardworking, middle-class Americans who are struggling during these tough times just like other Americans,” the group wrote. “No other group has been asked to financially contribute the way they have, and it is time our nation’s leaders found other ways to reduce the deficit than continually taking from those who have dedicated their lives to public service.”
According to the coalition, federal employees have funded $60 billion in budget savings in 2011 and 2012 as a result of their ongoing pay freeze and an additional $28 billion in savings will be derived from the freeze extension through March 2013.
Federal workers also contributed $15 billion toward the budget in 2011 when the contribution rate toward retirement pensions was raised to 2.3 percent for new employees.
Top Democratic lawmakers on committees related to the federal workforce told Government Executive last week that they would like to leave federal-employee benefits out of any potential debt deal. After President Obama’s reelection, top federal unions said they were confident their members would not be targeted in such a deal and a pay raise would be instituted.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
Just for the record, we (fed gov) don’t call ‘em layoffs, we call ‘em RIFs. “Reduction in force”. I’m not trying to be a smarta$$ but RIFs do happen. Personally if that’s what it takes then so be it. Problem with the fed gov is, seniority means everything, you could be the brightest most efficient worker in your dept. if the sluggo POS in your office has more time in sevice (comp date) than you and a RIF comes guess what, he stays you go. How do I know? It happened to me. That’s how fed gov employment is structured. Oh and by the way, before that happens, every contractor working at that facility has to go first.
Just doesn’t sound efficient does it?
This civil war, if it, actually, happens, could last a long time, and it could go on for several decades. I would be surprised if it’s quick.
It's not meant to be efficient; it's meant to be stable.
Having been a fed employee for 23 years, not sure it’s that either.
My only goal in contributing to this thread was to try and let folks know all federal employees aren’t a POS.
V_TWIN
If you go back to its origins, the purpose of the Civil Service Act was to stop Andrew Jackson's "spoils system" wholesale replacement of the government every time there was a Presidential election with a win by the opposite party. It was chaos.
“retire at 55 with 80% of their highest salary”
Would you mind providing me with where you got that information?
Last line: “-—and a pay raise would be instituted.” Oh, yeah, I can see that happening from my house. They just couldn’t stand to omit the whine and bellyache.
“Most of the government workers that cause so many problems are in the various Washington-connected agencies and they give us all a bad name.”
Agree with that. I also hate the fact that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to fire a fed employee. That aspect also hurts the hard working ones. There needs to be a threshold they cross where they lose their job as anyone would.
“Most of my co-workers . . . honorable military service.”
My husband fits into that category. He left active duty during the Carter administration and the times for finding work were hard to say the least. Also, we didn’t look at a federal job the way we do now - and sure didn’t realize some could keep their pay coming no matter what they did.
My husband’s field (both college and Air Force) is electronics, so I’m sure he could have found something in the Carter economy eventually, but after years of starving in the service, we were pretty desperate for a bit of security. Fast forward to today and here we are with the broad-brushed govt employee label.
Thanks for clearing up that point.
Yes, it did appear to me, at least, it was a 007-type of “if I tell you I have to kill you” thing. No worries.
I would like to say what I did in an agency near Wash DC with no public name, but in my case, they would kill me and THEN kill you. Ha!
Cheers.
The government usually lets retirements, deaths and resignations “reduce” the work-force.
Can you recall when the last time the “government” walked through the office pointing out various GS employees and saying, “you, you there, you are laid off.”
Contractors in government service are now actually being downsized through lay-offs.
Perhaps he is one of the new army of IRS agents or diversity coordinator’s being hired.
Attrition.
“Not sure what that’s supposed to mean, I’m a federal employee and I pay my taxes every year.”
No offense, perhaps I should have said ‘net taxpayer’. Since you derive a salary from the gov, you’re not a net taxpayer...unless you pay in taxes more than you earn!
I read your other posts stating you were with Dod. I don’t think people like me have a problem with that, Defense along with the POST OFFICE is a Constitutionally mandated job of the fedgov.
Perhaps if Energy, Education, HHS were scrapped there’d be more money and less deficits for the fedgov’s proper tasks.
“Not sure what that’s supposed to mean, I’m a federal employee and I pay my taxes every year.”
No offense, perhaps I should have said ‘net taxpayer’. Since you derive a salary from the gov, you’re not a net taxpayer...unless you pay in taxes more than you earn!
I read your other posts stating you were with Dod. I don’t think people like me have a problem with that, Defense along with the POST OFFICE is a Constitutionally mandated job of the fedgov.
Perhaps if Energy, Education, HHS were scrapped there’d be more money and less deficits for the fedgov’s proper tasks.
“Not sure what that’s supposed to mean, I’m a federal employee and I pay my taxes every year.”
No offense, perhaps I should have said ‘net taxpayer’. Since you derive a salary from the gov, you’re not a net taxpayer...unless you pay in taxes more than you earn!
I read your other posts stating you were with Dod. I don’t think people like me have a problem with that, Defense along with the POST OFFICE is a Constitutionally mandated job of the fedgov.
Perhaps if Energy, Education, HHS were scrapped there’d be more money and less deficits for the fedgov’s proper tasks.
The Post Office is Constitutionally AUTHORIZED, not MANDATED. Get it straight! They are not the same thing.
“Also fyi, I am on my third year of a pay freeze, no COLA, no bonus of any kind, nothing”
My husband who works for the private sector had his pay cut along with his co-workers by 20% three years ago. No pension. No matching 401K. Nothing. My daughters working for the same company have since left the company. My husband can’t because he is 65 years old. We have no idea when he can retire until Obamacare is implemented and we see how bad it is.
Remove yer mail box, dipshit. I’m weary of delivering your porn to ya! I’ll be sure to endorse “No Mail Receptical”.
That being said, a standing U.S. Navy, and her Corps of Marines, and the Post Office are the ONLY Federal Departments authorized by the Constitution. YOU get the Constitution amended, and YOU can get rid of my lazy ass...’til then STFU, and get rid of yer mailbox.
You know you can buy your porn a couple blocks from your house....
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