That link is to an article about state employees' pay and pensions -- not federal government employees.
The bill Bush signed gave a salary increase to federal employees -- not state government workers.
Big difference!
As a federal employee, I assure you your tax money is being well spent on my salary and benefits!
Better go back and read the article again.
I agree the article's emphasis is on state and local government, but the theme applies to the Federal employees as well. The last papragrah states:
"The extraordinary resources that public-sector interests can now bring to such a fight illustrate how even in places where citizens have direct access to the ballot box, reform won’t be easy. Public-sector forces have spent the last 40 years gathering power and organizing effectively. The next year or so will show whether tax revolts at the local level are still possible in America and whether taxpayers can be the masters of the public servants they support."