Posted on 12/09/2009 11:43:10 AM PST by Justaham
Congressional appropriators agreed Tuesday night to give civilian federal employees a 2 percent pay increase -- which includes a locality pay increase President Obama didn't want.
Government workers will get a 1.5 percent nationwide increase in base pay and a 0.5 percent average increase in locality pay. The final agreement goes against the wishes of Obama, who called for a flat 2 percent jump and no locality increase.
Locality pay helps address the gaps between federal pay and private sector wages in high-cost areas of the country. The Federal Salary Council estimates the current private-public gap is about 26 percent, on average. Locality increases mean a federal worker in Cincinnati might get a smaller increase than a worker in Washington, D.C., because of local costs of living.
“I am pleased the final bill will provide for locality pay to reflect variable costs for federal employees working in various job markets,” Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement Tuesday night. “This provision is critical to bringing federal pay in line with the private sector and enabling the federal government to compete for high quality talent.” Hoyer's Congressional district is home to thousands of federal employees.
The pay increase will take effect once the House and Senate pass the FY'10 omnibus appropriations bill. Lawmakers hope to pass a host of key bills before year's end.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Alright, you got me.
Merry Christmas!
Don’t know if it includes retired federal workers, but I know for a fact that it doeas not include retired military.
Retired military gets zero.
Because this was a cost of living increase.
One does not EARN a cost of living increase.
Agreed. “Given” is a more accurate term.
The raise does include retired workers. I’m one of ‘em.
Jerk. I’m a Federal Contract Specialist and I’m underpaid in my field.
Civilian federal employees get an additional 2% paid for by the taxpayers left who have taken huge hits in their income.
Plus we are staring down the barrel of HUGE tax increases coming at all levels and more layoffs coming in the private sector. Governments never do with less.
If there was no COLA needed for SS, then there is no COLA needed for federal employees.
Nam Vet
I don’t know anyone who’s crying about it.
Frankly I’m surprised we’re getting anything at all.
I don't think so. There has been no increase in the cost of living this year, which is why the retired military and social security recipients aren't getting a raise.
It's a raise because the union would go ape if federal employees didn't get something. (my assumption.)
I had to take 9 furlough days and burn vacation.
Must be nice to be a government worker and immune to the recession.
“Federal Union employees earn 2% pay raise...”
Fixed!
Beings that 20% of the Country is unemployed, enjoy that raise.
Pray for America’s Freedom
Good for you.
At least you have a job.
Millions on the private sector do not.
I spent over a decade as a Gov’t employee and earned every penny I made. I don’t begrudge them a raise BUT I do think that SS should not have been overlooked for COL increases this year either.
I find the inconsistency interesting.
Cola for Feds, yes.
Cola for Social Security and military retirees, no.
What’s the difference? One word: NTEU.
To quote Glen Beck, “blood is shooting from my eyes”! This country is toast.
Federal retired, receive zero pay increase this year
No shit. Bust out the world’s tiniest violin. I guess I should just be grateful that I still have a job (for now).
See
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125175281072673759.html
Obama Curbs Federal Pay Increases
....That has created a yawning gulf. If Mr. Obama did nothing, the comparability formula would dictate a 16.5% pay increase, on top of the 2.4% cost of living increase.
That would be a $22.6 billion hit to the ailing federal budget in 2010. Cost of living adjustments alone were to boost pay by 2.4% for most federal employees.
Citing his right in an emergency to use an alternative formula, the president said he will keep the pay increases to 2%, the level he called for in his budget earlier this year.z
Actually - you may be right - the writing of this article does not make clear - is this a 2% PAY RAISE on TOP OF a 2.4% COLA increase for Federal Employees?
Or is there no COLA and only a 2% raise?
The article makes it look like there are TWO increases for Federal Employees in 2010 budget....
Further down it says:
“Instead, the 2% pay raise will cost taxpayers $2.7 billion next year.”
And then there are the Members of Congress who are also getting a nice FAT pay raise - $4700.00 each -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2403628/posts
Again - from article above and others - believed this is a COLA increase - cost of living increases are NOT EARNED. They are GIVEN OUT in government jobs and, in the past, to Social Security recipients. (And, I believe, to people on welfare).
Of course there are some very hardworking government employees.
Congress people are not among them.
Millions in the private sector have seen zero pay increases in recent years, or pay cuts, or now have zero salary coming in due to job losses.
Meanwhile our government is trillions in debt.
Meaning - WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THESE INCREASES!!
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