Administration Recommends 0.5% Pay Raise for Federal Workers
Junemann Applauds President for "Breaking" the Pay Freeze
WASHINGTON, DC – Today the Obama Administration instructed budget directors at federal agencies to plan for a 0.5% pay increase for federal workers. This recommendation comes on the heels of the current two year pay freeze, which ends on December 31, 2012.
International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) President Gregory Junemann issued the following statement in response to today’s news:
“IFPTE applauds the Obama Administration for breaking the two year pay freeze. As IFPTE has reiterated time and time again, federal workers are well aware of the budgetary circumstances facing our nation. Even though the deficit and economic turmoil our nation continues to face is not the fault of federal workers, they have patriotically stepped up to the plate by accepting the two year pay freeze, which, at the end of the day, resulted in $60 billion in savings to the federal budget over ten years. It is heartening to see that the President has recognized this significant sacrifice that federal workers and their families have made, and has broken the two year pay freeze.
“With today’s promising jobs report, we all are hopeful that our economy is finally starting to rebound. That said, IFPTE looks forward to normalization of the COLA process in the coming years so that it is reflective of the true increase in the cost of living. All in all, this is a very good thing and the President is to be commended.”
IFPTE represents federal workers at the Department of Defense, NASA, the Department of Energy, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Congressional Research Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Government Accountability Office, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Interior.