The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) is backing a bill that would provide a 3.3 percent pay adjustment for federal workers in 2015 instead of the one percent raise proposed in the President’s budget.
The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, H.R. 4306, was introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and is co-sponsored by nine other members of Congress, including Reps. Jim Moran (D-VA), Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and John Tierney (D-MA).
“Here’s the bottom line: With a one percent pay adjustment in 2015, real incomes for federal workers will continue to shrink,” said NFFE-IAM President Bill Dougan. “After all the sacrifices federal employees have made in recent years, further eroding their real incomes is unacceptable. Federal workers deserve better. The FAIR Act is a reasonable measure that would be a much-needed step in the right direction for federal workers.”
Federal workers have seen their buying power erode after a three-year pay freeze and only a one percent pay adjustment in 2013. The average pay for federal workers lags 35 percent behind workers performing the same jobs in the private sector, according to the Federal Salary Council.
Rep. Connolly cited the wage freeze, furloughs, sequester cuts and the government shutdown in his plea to give federal workers an adequate raise.
“By investing in the federal government’s most valuable resource, its talented workforce, the FAIR Act would begin repairing the significant damage that has been wrought on our overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated career civil service workers, while helping to ensure we can attract the best and the brightest to build the federal workforce of the future,” said Connolly.
Tell Congress that the FAIR Act is needed to adequately compensate federal employees. Ask to speak to your representative by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
