GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Capital-area feds got 2008 raises on par with private sector

• 58417
  

  It would appear that Mr. 'Statistic Lie' is "mathematically challenged". Four-and-a-half percent of ten dollars is only forty-five cents. ;)

  JadedFed Posted September 12, 2008 5:02 PM
• 58410
  

  Just to clarify for all of those confused people who insist on picking on DC employees and claiming that we make the big bucks.....DC employees locality is 20.89%, right smack dab in the middle of the road on total locality. There are 10 other areas with higher locality, so start picking on Houston 27.39%, Chicago 23.16%, Boston 22.51%, Detroit 22.53%, Denver 21.03%, LA 25.26%, NY 26.36%, San Diego 22.00%, and San Jose 32.53%.

  For all of the confused people Posted September 12, 2008 3:08 PM
• 58336
  

  Move the agencies out of DC, to the rest of the US.

  Mike Posted September 12, 2008 7:46 AM
• 58252
  

  How many years were we behind? Does the world outside of DC really think we are not facing the rising cost of gasoline, utilities, food and everything else. If you want to really see who is gettig the real money look to SF, Seattle, and some of the larger cities in the US - just don't think that DC is getting all of the benefits because we live near the big white house. We pay again and again for that privelige.

  Denise Posted September 11, 2008 9:28 AM
• 58215
  

  Statistics can always be manipulated. 4.5% = 4.5% right? No. Fed salaries are less than comparable private sector salaries.

  So 4.5% of less is not equal to 4.5% of more.

  For the mathematically challenged:

  Workers A & B both work in DC and both do the same job. Worker A works for the government; Worker B works in the private sector. Worker A gets paid $10; Worker B gets paid $20.

  Worker A & B both get 4.5% raise.

  Worker A, after raise, gets paid $14.50 Worker B, after raise, gets paid $29.00

  Worker A got $4.50 more Worker B got $9 more--double the amount of Worker A even though Workers A & B got the "same" 4.5% raise.

  Statistics Lie Posted September 10, 2008 11:00 PM
• 58214
  

  Remember the story is based on the so called private sector is DC which is comprised of lobbyists and other state and local government entities. when the average across the country was less than a 1% increase Feds are being well taken care of

  dan m ketter Posted September 10, 2008 10:59 PM
• 58084
  

  Yeah, and the reason why DC folks are keeping up with DC labor increases is because all of us in Rest of US gave up a little on our pay increase every year to make it happen. I got news for you, cost of living in the hinterlands is growing by double digit rates. Have you bought gas, paid a utility bill, been to a grocery store, or paid property taxes lately?

  Jay Smithers Posted September 9, 2008 4:17 PM
• 58074
  

  Ah, I like to see something a little closer to reality in print for once; and quoting that the best paid of us are falling behind the private industry is much closer to our reality.

  Remember, if the Beltway bandits (where everything is overgraded) are falling behind, what about those of us out here in the Rest of the US?

  Once more, I would really like to see some statistics that actually jive with the Federal Civilian Workforce Statistics, The Fact Book.

  Tip off Posted September 9, 2008 2:09 PM
• 58047
  

  The difference between 3.5% and 4.5% is 28.57%. That is a significant difference.

  Thomas Bell Posted September 9, 2008 9:13 AM
• 58035
  

  Washington Feds got a 3.71% raise in 2005. This can be confirmed on OPM's website. The Human Resources Association or Government Executive reversed the Government and private sector numbers. The Feds actually fell behind in 2005.

  Stefan Silzer Posted September 9, 2008 7:48 AM
• 58030
  

  Just curious does this guy work for the government, bet he doesn't, pay parity by rear end. no more GS pay scale it's the good old boy system now.

  Jim Posted September 9, 2008 3:56 AM