FWA Letter to Congress Opposing Federal Pay Freeze

(Federal Workers Alliance)

Dear Representative, Senator,

The unions of the Federal Workers Alliance (FWA), collectively representing more than 300,000 federal workers, are writing in opposition to the President’s proposed freeze on federal civilian pay for 2011 and 2012.   We urge your opposition to the proposed freeze when Congress considers it.

On February 1, 2010, President Obama sent to Congress his FY 2011 budget that recommended a modest 1.4 percent pay raise for federal employees and military personnel.  The 1.4 percent request for civilian personnel reflected wage increases in the private sector, and amounts to a small step towards closing the significant pay gap with the private sector. 

Unlike some media reports that have erroneously claimed federal workers are overpaid compared to private sector workers, federal employees are in fact paid an average of 24 percent less when comparing workers in the same jobs.  In fact, President George W. Bush certified that federal employees are significantly underpaid each of his years in office.  In 2008 – just two years ago – President Bush certified correctly that federal workers were 23 percent underpaid.  They were underpaid then, and they still are today.

On September 1, President Obama reaffirmed his budget request by not using his emergency authority under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA, PL 101-509) to freeze or change the basic pay portion of the raise.  FEPCA requires basic pay to be set at one-half percent less than  the Employment Cost Index (ECI), as measured by the Bureau of Labor statistics –– currently 1.4 percent — unless the President acts.  By not acting, under existing law, a .9 percent raise is scheduled to go into effect in January.  While a .5 percent locality adjustment was anticipated as part of his original 1.4 percent proposal, the President also changed direction and used emergency authority under FEPCA on November 30th to freeze the locality portion of the pay raise.

The unions of the FWA are not unaware of the difficult economic times the nation faces and the large budget deficit.  However, we do not believe singling out federal employees for deficit reduction is fair.  And it is likely to impede the government’s ability to hire and keep talented and skilled employees at a time when nearly 45% are eligible to retire.

A pay freeze for federal employees will impact civil servants throughout government, including those who work side-by-side with our military. It will also break the concept of pay parity despite the President’s prior support for that concept.  The proposed freeze

extends to Department of Defense workers who maintain our military readiness; Veterans’ Administration workers who care for our nation’s veterans; Customs and Border Protection Officers (CPBO) who protect our ports of entry; Environmental Protection Agency scientists who help protect our environment; foreign service employees who handle international challenges; and many others.  Many of these employees are also suffering in this recession with spouses and other family members unemployed.

Again, we urge you to oppose the pay freeze for federal civilian employees. 

Sincerely,

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO

International Association of Firefighters (IAFF)

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE)

International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P)

Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA)

Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO

National Association of Government Employees (SEIU/NAGE)

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA)

Federal Education Association/NEA

National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE)

Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS)

Sheet Metal Workers International Association

United Power Trades Organization (UPTO)