GovernmentExecutive.com

A House panel late Monday backed a bill granting civilian federal employees a 2008 pay raise of 3.5 percent, a figure equal to the adjustment already authorized in the House for the military.

The House Appropriations Committee approved the raise in the markup of the fiscal 2008 financial services appropriations bill. The adjustment is half a percent higher than the increase proposed by the Bush administration, which recently issued a policy statement opposing the additional 0.5 percent on the grounds that it is unnecessary.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., praised the measure for providing pay parity for military and civilian employees. This "reflects the conviction that compensation for civilian federal employees must be sufficient to support efforts to attract and retain the best employees," Hoyer said. "As an increasing number of employees become eligible for retirement, the government must have the ability to hire quality employees to avert a human capital crisis."

Hoyer cited Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicating that there is a 32 percent pay gap between civilian federal employees and their private sector counterparts in some parts of the nation, and an estimated 10 percent gap between military service members and private sector employees.

"Pay parity also recognizes that pay for civilian and military employees simply has not kept pace with increases in the private sector," he said. "I will continue to work to secure a fair pay adjustment for federal employees in recognition of their service to our country."

Approval of the raise also drew praise from federal labor unions, which have been lobbying for parity as well as a raise higher than the president's request. The National Treasury Employees Union pushed for a 3.5 percent raise, while the American Federation of Government Employees lobbied for 4 percent.

"A fair and competitive pay raise for federal civilian workers is one of the key factors in making it possible for government agencies not [only] to recruit the high-quality employees they so clearly need, but to retain them as well," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley.

The full House is expected to consider the pay raise when it takes up the appropriations bill next week.

COMMENTS

• With the contractors getting a $2.59 pay raise, which pays them more than a wl-11 that has 35 years with the goverment I hardly feel that a 3.5% pay raise is fair or equitable. The DS2 employees will be making $24.89. Why does anybody stay with the fedeal gvt. Mike Landi Posted June 23, 2007 12:10 PM
• Tip Off, you should run for office. There is no doubt in my mind that you've got it figured out. The politicians and their followers have no idea how the gov functions. WE ARE NOT A BUSINESS. WE DON'T MAKE MONEY WE SPEND IT. You can send me to as many Business training events that you want......but, when I return to my desk, it's still to my government job. However, to look like a business, we just renamed a few programs and voila, we're in business!! nolalive Posted June 22, 2007 11:44 AM
• My condolence to those who, whether perceived or actual, feel trapped by the NSPS system. I can only emphatize with your frustration. My main point in intering this topic is to say "thank you" to those champions of Federal workers in Congress who are endeavoring to make this increase possible. I will not quiver with the size of the increase because I know that it is greator than what was proposed and to me, this shows that some recognize that our value is more..even if just a little bit more. I do not know all of the names of our champions but I do know names of Hoyer and Davis. There are others. But to all, I and others, say, Thank You. My thanks would not be complete without thanking the various union heads who are also working with our Congressional champions to make this increase possible. To them I say, in representing your members well, your work benefits ALL Federal employees. I am not a union member but to me, that does not matter. Thanks for your support. Will Posted June 21, 2007 10:43 PM