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What Comes After Trump's Federal Pay Freeze: Why Not Equal Pay For Equal Work?
IBD ^ | 09/02/2018

Posted on 09/03/2018 2:02:22 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

After President Trump announced he wants to revoke federal workers' automatic 2.1% pay raise this year, the response was predictable. Democrats and government unions squealed. The only really surprising thing is that Trump didn't do it sooner.

"In light of our nation's fiscal situation, Federal employee pay must be performance-based, and aligned strategically toward recruiting, retaining and rewarding high-performing Federal employees and those with critical skill sets," Trump wrote in a letter to Congress.

The move brought a near-instantaneous response. "Cutting federal pay is not the way to run the best government possible or to recruit and retain the most talented Americans to serve their fellow countrymen," No. 2 House Democrat Steny Hoyer said.

California Democrat Eric Swalwell was more succinct, tweeting out that Trump had "screwed" federal workers.

Despite the wailing on the left, Trump's move shouldn't be controversial. What he described is exactly how private employees get compensated. Why should government employees be any different?

The truth is, by any reasonable measure a federal employee makes way more than a private worker for doing the same job. But federal workers don't have to answer to a marketplace. Once hired, it's almost impossible to fire them. And it's equally difficult to tell whether a federal worker is productive. How do you measure a bureaucrat's output?

By the way, Trump's move doesn't include the military. They got a 2.4% pay hike last year, and will get 2.6% this year. It's the 2.1 million federal workers, who got a 1.4% pay hike last year, that will get nothing. Unless, that is, Congress rejects his move.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; ericswalwell; federalemployees; government; incometaxes; payfreeze; taxcutsandjobsact; taxreform; tcja
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Before you bring out a violin, please note: Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that in 2016, federal government workers had average total compensation — wages, benefits, vacation, etc. — of $127,259 a year. For the private sector, it's just $70,764. So federal workers make 80% more than private ones, an absurd and unsustainable gap. As recently as 1990, the difference was just 30%.
1 posted on 09/03/2018 2:02:22 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Sadly Trump has said he might reconsider. Pitiful. I figure if government workers drop their unions they will get more than the pending pay raise.

Equal pay? It is impossible unless truly equal pay for equal work. Statistically men work longer hours, often more productive. Men don't take time off for maternity leave and children. Facts. Generally speaking, women will not reach 10,000 hours of actual work, for example, before men, why should they expect the same pay? When actual hours worked are equal, when productivity is equal, pay them the same. Unless there is blatant discrimination, let the market set the price.

2 posted on 09/03/2018 2:10:23 PM PDT by Reno89519 (No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!y)
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To: SeekAndFind
Why should government employees be any different?

Because they reliably vote Democrat.

3 posted on 09/03/2018 2:10:58 PM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: SeekAndFind

Back in the 50s and 60s federal workers earned less but got better benefits plus had a retirement fund that was way better. People made choices.

Since then federal workers have made way more still had great benefits. Their whining doesn’t bother me at all


4 posted on 09/03/2018 2:13:29 PM PDT by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: Reno89519
Generally speaking, women will not reach 10,000 hours of actual work,

During what period of time?

5 posted on 09/03/2018 2:14:18 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I once found a needle in a haystack but it wasn't the one I was looking for...)
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To: Reno89519

The raise is just crumbs :)


6 posted on 09/03/2018 2:15:25 PM PDT by Karoo
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To: SeekAndFind
"Cutting federal pay is not the way to run the best government possible

Nobody is cutting federal pay, he's merely denying an auto increase that I was subjected to on occasions during my 35 years of employment with my company.....

7 posted on 09/03/2018 2:16:22 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (I once found a needle in a haystack but it wasn't the one I was looking for...)
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To: SeekAndFind

They’re lucky he’s not firing 20-30% of them.


8 posted on 09/03/2018 2:16:42 PM PDT by JPJones (More tariffs, less income tax.)
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To: Hot Tabasco

typical liberal lie. The dems do it all the time, reagan cute this and hush cut that but all theaydid was cut the increase.


9 posted on 09/03/2018 2:17:56 PM PDT by morphing libertarian (Use Comey's Report; Indict Hillary now. --- Proud Smelly Walmart Deplorable)
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To: SeekAndFind
Unless, that is, Congress rejects his move.

Count on it.

10 posted on 09/03/2018 2:21:01 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: SeekAndFind

Think about something else..

PDT can let this run its course, let the LIBs ‘slap him around’ and on Halloween, rescind the order, give SS a raise and pick up a few R votes two weeks later in the process.

I don’t think this man goes to the can without figuring his next move.

Typical SUCCESSFUL business man, a pol has to ‘test the wind first’...


11 posted on 09/03/2018 2:27:18 PM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98)""Just because I keep saying WOW doesn't mean you are great!!")
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To: Hot Tabasco

My wording not as clear as intended. In the elapsed time for a man to accumulate 10,000 hours actual work, a typical woman will have less. Thus, at 2,000 hour years, a man with ‘5 years of experience’, will have more experience packed in that 5 years than a woman. No surprise if pay then is different.


12 posted on 09/03/2018 2:31:44 PM PDT by Reno89519 (No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!y)
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To: Reno89519

A GS 11 is a GS 11 regardless of gender


13 posted on 09/03/2018 2:32:06 PM PDT by bert ((KE. N.P. N.C. +12) Muller..... conspiracy to over throw the government)
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To: SeekAndFind

How about making it easier - or, at least possible - to fire incompetent federal workers. This career path is a Gravy Train for dolts and time servers.


14 posted on 09/03/2018 2:32:33 PM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: Nifster

Back in the 50s and 60s federal workers earned less but got better benefits plus had a retirement fund that was way better. People made choices
= = = = = = = = = = =
That lasted well into the 70s....one could work for the Fed or local gov or go Private.

Made a tad more in Private sector and had some perks, mostly a vehicle BUT in 5-10 years the guy that went with government was buying a house and a new car every few years while private sector was still ‘establishing’ himself.

I am really upset upon hearing the disparity concerning White Mens pay being higher..

When in business, I just should have hired women and minorities and just stuck the dollar or so per hour in my pocket.

Live and learn????

Like the question was asked....When is the last time Womens Orgs protested the fact that women pay lower auto insurance rates than men??? OR where is the National Organization Of Men or the White Male Caucus going to take up the cause?


15 posted on 09/03/2018 2:35:22 PM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98)""Just because I keep saying WOW doesn't mean you are great!!")
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To: SeekAndFind

Why on earth would someone whose doesn’t build something of value, and whose salary is extracted from the portion of society that does, even get paid EQUAL to a private sector worker who just want to go to work and mind his own business?


16 posted on 09/03/2018 2:37:37 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Government employment is a lifetime sinecure if one so chooses.


17 posted on 09/03/2018 2:42:46 PM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: SeekAndFind

I would love to see the government means test disability recipients. Add in a rule that a person making over a certain amount is not eligible to receive SS, being the USSC has ruled that it is “welfare”. Turn around then and raise the bottom of the payments up to $1,500-$2K per month, but only for those who have earned their way in first, not the non-workers who draw pay, and have never worked. There are many women who abstained from welfare while raising children without a spouse, who made very little money for years. Hence only a $700 check each month. Republicans must have an answer for the Dims idea of minimum income for all. Make it a decent level of benefit after the work life is over at least. It will sell, and it MUST be done. Sometimes you have to purchase votes, and this is a great way to support the elderly and the truly handicapped.


18 posted on 09/03/2018 2:44:07 PM PDT by Glad2bnuts (If Republicans are not prepared to carry on the Revolution of 1776, prepare for a communist takeover)
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To: xrmusn

And what about criminal convictions and incarceration? We know the legal system is biased because blacks are convicted and incarcerated at a higher rate than whites. Racism is the only possible explanation because there couldn’t possibly be a demographic difference that would lead to different rates of crime. Similarly, the male-female discrepancy proves sexism in the legal system; it’s the only explanation.


19 posted on 09/03/2018 2:44:09 PM PDT by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: facedown
Because they reliably vote Democrat.

Please share where you get this factoid; when a vast majority of Federal workers are veterans. It seems you are just inventing facts. The ones I have met, across multiple agencies are conservative. NASA, DoD and associated agencies.

20 posted on 09/03/2018 2:47:31 PM PDT by Hodar (A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.- Burroughs)
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