Bush Cuts Pay Raises for Federal Workers, Citing National Emergency

TBo.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Bush Cuts Pay Raises for Federal Workers, Citing National Emergency By Jennifer Loven Associated Press Writer

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - Citing a state of national emergency brought on by last year's terrorist attacks, President Bush on Friday slashed the pay raises most civilian federal workers were to receive starting in January. Under a law passed in 1990, federal employees covered by the government's general schedule pay system would receive a two-part pay increase with the new year, a 3.1 percent across-the-board increase plus a pay hike based on private-sector wage changes in the areas where they work.

This law outlining federal pay kicks in because Congress has not yet passed the appropriations legislation directing a specific increase, said Amy Call, a spokeswoman for the White House's Office of Management and Budget.

The White House couldn't say exactly how many federal employees the change would impact, but said it would be almost all.

Bush's pay decision is yet another blow to federal workers, many of whom are facing big changes in job descriptions under the Bush administration.

Earlier this month, the administration announced it wants to let private companies compete for up to half of the 1.8 million federal jobs. Also, in the new Homeland Security Department, Bush won the broad powers he sought to hire, fire and move workers in the 22 agencies that will be merged.

In a letter sent Friday to congressional leaders, Bush announced he was using his authority to change workers' pay structure in times of national emergency or "serious economic conditions" and limiting raises to the 3.1 percent across-the-board boost. Military personnel will receive a 4.1 percent increase.

That means that the additional so-called locality-based payments would remain at current levels because "our national situation precludes granting larger pay increases ... at this time," Bush said.

The White House quietly released the letter to journalists via e-mail late on Friday, the middle of a long holiday weekend when most Americans were apt to be paying little attention.

Officials of unions representing federal workers could not immediately be reached Friday night for comment.

Call said the locality-based payments have rarely gone into effect since their creation in 1990, either because former President Clinton limited them or Congress prescribed other salary increases.

"The whole locality-based adjustment ... for the most part doesn't go into effect," Call said.

The White House estimated that the overall average locality-based pay increase would amount to about 18.6 percent. Bush said granting the full raises would cost about $13.6 billion in 2003, or $11.2 billion more than he proposed for the year - a cost the nation can't bear as it continues to battle the war against terror.

"A national emergency has existed since September 11, 2001," Bush wrote. "Such cost increases would threaten our efforts against terrorism or force deep cuts in discretionary spending or federal employment to stay within budget. Neither outcome is acceptable."

The president noted that the raises still amount to more than the current inflation rate of 2.1 percent.

"I do not believe this decision will materially affect our ability to continue to attract and retain a quality federal workforce," he said.

[sneakypete]

Go to the bookstore and read the book "Its Your Ship" in the business section.

LOL! Been observing gooberment long? Not much competition there,and not much reason to compete. It's not a business and it isn't ran like a business.

[sneakypete]

And I know they are likely the exception.

No,they are the "rule". Most letter carriers are hard workers who do the best they can do every day. They are the workers who get the job done DESPITE the mismanagement. It's the "political workers" who cause all the problems,and none of them ever go out and do any actual work.

[sneakypete]

You are putting words into my mouth.

Of course I was. I did this to illustrate how the same actions can be seen differently,even by the same person.

[sneakypete]

Sorry if I wasn't clear on that ...

My apologies for misunderstanding you.

[MCFujiTanker]

Here in Japan a GS-12 Step 10 gets $69944. It takes 18 years to get to "Step 10" once you make GS-12 (If you start at Step 1). I don't mind getting 3.1% instead of 4.1%, with Dubyaa in charge. The article said he cut the raise!! How do you "cut" something you don't have yet?? The main reason we didn't get the 4.1% was because the Democratic controlled Senate held up the parade this fall, the bills were never passed on time. Here in Japan we don't get locality pay. When CLINTON was divving up that every year, overseas employees got screwed. DC went from 4% locality pay...now it's something like 11%. That means an employee in DC gets 11% more than an employee stationed overseas. The overseas Post Aloowance makes up some of the difference....but why do we start off 11% behind from the get go?? Hopefully Senator CORZINE will donate his Senate raise to the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society!!

[alphadog]

"I know it's fashionable to hate the federal government, but who is going to protect you from Al Qaeda? Bill Gates? Jeff Bezos? Ted Turner?

Who is going to protect me from the Federal government?

[MCFujiTanker]

You are misinformed. I'm a civilian criminal investigator for the DON and just spent Saturday night on duty in Tokyo (I don't get any extra overtime, it's "included" in my pay). I've seen plenty of Fraud, Waste and Abuse in the Government, but not much with my fellow Brother Law Enforcement Officers. I work so much "overtime", that my Law Enforcement Availability Pay works out to "halftime" or less most of time. Don't confuse the people that are on the front line of the War Against Terror with the mutts inside the Beltway that stare out their windows all day hoping it will snow and that they'll be sent home early. I am very familiar with the type of employee you aree talking about. The common joke..."Why Are Civil Service Employees Like Titan Missiles??"..."They Just Lay Around And You Never Get To Fire Them!!". Semper Fi....Retired USMCR...now serving overseas as a USN Civilian employee!!

[PhiKapMom]

Here in Oklahoma the locality pay is small -- we get lumped in with everyone as our cost of living is cheaper than most. I used a GS-12 because that seemed about the average grade for Materiel Command. I cannot imagine what it must be like in Japan with the high costs of everything. One of my daughter's friend's Mom was transferred to Okuska, Japan, with the Navy last year, and her son is now back in the states going to college. He was telling about the high cost of living in Japan.

Like you I didn't understand the cut comment as the original raise stayed the same -- 3.1%. And I don't think there should be such a disparity in locality pay either.

[maui_hawaii]

Read the book. Its not about business. Its about the Navy and how the captain turned a ship from dead last to record setting first, and how the ship won numerous awards. And to boot he saved money during the process while outperforming all the ships in the history of the Navy. The book is about leadership.

LOL back to you. If it is not run like a business, should be. Thats the problem.

[maui_hawaii]

By the way, quit whining about your many years of experience and Don't just say it, back it up and tell why. I am waiting for your response. Let me guess...here is your stance... government is broken, government will always be broken. Government will never be fixed. Government will never do anything good or right. Cynical are we?

[sneakypete]

FedX and USPS would do the job much more efficiently and at a far less cost to the taxpayer.

Not as far as I'm concerned,they wouldn't. I think they both suck,and ALWAYS request anybody I buy anything from ship it to me using USPS. I'm tired of having my stuff left out in the rain or delivered to the wrong place.

[sneakypete]

By the way, quit whining about your many years of experience

If anybody is whining,it's you. You are all theory and no experience.

and Don't just say it, back it up and tell why.

Let's see if I understand your request,ok? Going by historic example isn't good enough for you,you want me to prove what hasn't happened yet WILL happen? Better yet,why don't YOU prove to all of US that Bubba-2 will reduce the size of gooberment? Since you insist on ignoring history,his expansion of the Dept of Education and other budget busting steps shouldn't be a hinderance to you.

I am waiting for your response. Let me guess...here is your stance... government is broken, government will always be broken. Government will never be fixed. Government will never do anything good or right. Cynical are we?

Well,I guess I could live in a alternate universe,and blindly believe Jorge "The Messiah" Bush will wave his magic wand and reduce the size of gooberment. Right after he increases the number of social workers to service the illegal aliens he invites into the country,increases the number of HUD employees to manage the billions of dollars he says he is going to spend to build new houses for minorities,most likely creates a special "SWAT" force and police dept amongst his new govt employees who screen travelers at airports,etc,etc,etc. Yup,dat Bubba Bush,he be a cuttin' gooberment fool!

[JusticeLives]

"Citing a state of national emergency"

Does "state of national emergency" means we're now under martial law, without an obligatory announcement?

[sneakypete]

Privatize it (but DO NOT INTERNATIONALIZE IT.

Thank you.

No thank you.

[SLB]

Here in Kentucky we also are considered to be "Rest of US" as far as locality is concerned. The 3.1% is better than a sharp stick in the eye. Many complain just to hear themselves make noise.

As far as taking 18 years to reach a step 10, yes that is true for the original grade you are hired in. As a case in point, if you start as a step one, you will receive automatic step increases every year, then every two years and then every three years as you progress. Then when you are promoted, you go to a step that is equal to or the next greater of a two step increase for the grade you are in. My only promotion in civili service resulted in going from a step six to a step two. Not it was like a one year jump start in starting over. One benefit was the next step increases came faster again.

The step increases are: (1 year) 1 to 2, 2 to 3 and 3 to 4; (2 years) 4 to 5, 5 to 6 and 6 to 7; (3 years) 7 to 8, 8 to 9 and 9 to 10.

PhiKapMom - you were correct in using GS-12 as an average. I read somewhere that GS-12 is the most populous grade, followed by GS-11 then GS-5 or 6, I don't remember which.

Also many people outside of government do not realize the USPS is on a different pay scale than the rest of the government, or that blue collar workers are on another scale and that the Senior Executive Service is on still another scale and that lower level (GS-3 to GS-10) law enforcement officers are on still another. There are also different scales for dentists and physicians that work for the VA, for the foreign service (state department) employess and for the Executive Schedule which are cabinet officers, deputy secretaries and other appointed officials.

Confused? Even those of us in the "system" are confused.

[hoosierham]

I think a poster on a thread several years ago pointed out the "state of national emergency" proclamation issued in the 1960s has never been declared over.

[maui_hawaii]

We agree on the nepotism, beauracracy, bad cultures, 'the club', etc etc. My view is that part, a large part of the problem is this type of stuff. It drives people away, and keeps the 'homeys' and political cronies in line for the big jobs regardless of their merit.

The federal roles are run anything but like a business should be.

Right now in many cases they are not. Anyone who runs their business like the government will go belly up. I am suggesting things should change. Government should learn from business, not the other way around.

In the book I mentioned above the guy talks a lot about how the people who follow the don't rock the boat rule get promoted, even when they have no merit to back it up. The people who perform don't.

link

A start? No?