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The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Treasury on Thursday approved a 3.5 percent pay raise for all federal civilian employees in fiscal 2005.

The move - which took place as the subcommittee adjusted its spending bill - comes despite extensive White House efforts to hold the civilian pay raise to 1.5 percent in the coming year while granting a 3.5 percent raise to military personnel. President Bush has said the military deserves the higher raise because of continued deployments overseas, and his supporters in Congress have complained that the 3.5 percent civilian raise will cost the federal government too much money. Supporters of equal pay raises have said the pay boosts are needed for recruitment and retention. Several lawmakers have noted that many civilian workers are heavily involved in homeland security, anti-terrorism and military efforts.

In March, the House overwhelmingly endorsed equal pay raises for the military and civilian workforce in a nonbinding "Sense of Congress" resolution. Several months later, in July, the House Appropriations Committee voted to support pay parity, but the full House has not yet officially addressed the issue.

The language in the Senate subcommittee's spending bill is very similar to the language in the matching House bill, according to sources. This could potentially pave the way for a smooth adoption of the pay-parity language in a conference committee, if it is ultimately approved by both chambers.

Federal workers unions moved quickly to commend Thursday's Senate subcommittee vote.

"There is a growing bipartisan majority in Congress, which recognizes that federal employees deserve pay parity with the military and a level playing field in the face of this administration's continuing ill-advised policy of opening up government work to a private sector that is unaccountable to our nation's taxpayers," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

The American Federation of Government Employees applauded the subcommittee and noted that the pay raise would apply to all government workers, including Defense and Department of Homeland Security employees whose entire personnel and pay system is being overhauled.

"We are particularly pleased that the 3.5 percent pay raise covers not just [General Schedule] workers governmentwide, but also blue-collar employees paid under the Federal Wage System," said AFGE President John Gage. "Although, the actions of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee are an important victory, we can't presume the pay raise is a done deal. AFGE will need to be vigilant to make sure that the pay increase is not lowered as the appropriations process continues."

COMMENTS

• Me thinks this is the same old crap that has been layed out since Clinton, how long has that been folks, over a decade now, believe me things were better back prior to LOB's, downsizing, do more with less, A-76, hammer award, the list goes on etc, thing is when ya actually do that you get the same BS... me thinks that being eligible for retirement in less then a year with 55/32 years is better then sliced bread or getting layed, in all fairness my years have been good but for me, me thinks I don't need this stinkin' job anymore. GovExec.com reader Posted September 14, 2004 7:41 PM
• This article tells the story of a President that discriminates against Federal civil service workers, puts them in a position of defending themselves when it comes to getting a pay raise for doing the same jobs in many cases as the military. Military people don't get it until they get their DD214 and then get a civil service job. One day they don't care about our raise but then it becomes their raise and the story changes overnight. Therefore, I will never vote for this man or for another Republican, I will however, never stop voting. GovExec.com reader Posted September 14, 2004 12:22 PM
• Most postings ignore the military housing allowances that civilians do not get unless they work for Fannie Mae ($16000 to buy a home) what bull this is with money that should be mine! I work with hundreds of military that are not in harms way and probably never will be. The Air Force sends people for duty serving Iraq for 120 days tops and started with 90 days. Not a real big deal for a full year of pay increase. Also, what about the medical coverage - the civilians pay premiums (now going up significantly as is even medicare). Then there is retirement - military guys retire and appear the next day in a suit doing the same job they were doing the day before as military. Hire your friends not the qualified people! Is it any wonder that the government is low on the pole for public trust? tax payer Posted September 14, 2004 6:35 AM