Return to Article: Bush issues order implementing 3.9 percent pay raise
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66450
WOW! I was very afraid going to NSPS after reading a lot of the comments from folks on this site. I just completed my first year under the new pay sytem and I am thoroughly satisfied. I was rated as a 3.33 and my total raise this year is 7.08%! Never had a raise that high in my 20 years under the old GS system. And that's not including the bonus aspect of my increase either that is paid in a lump sum next week! A bunch of whiners I say!
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65912
reminder: NSPS people get that bonus every year, and its neither TSP matched nor counts towards your retirement calculations of high-three. Didnt consider that, did ya?
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65768
Yes, I'm thankful for the work. Yes, I'm thankful for ANY pay increase. No, I'm NOT grateful for any attempt to balance the budget UNFAIRLY AND SQUARELY on the backs of civil servants! As I've said in the past, if we have to actually pay for "Daddy's War" to keep it off the back of our children, then so be it. "Wars" are expensive (but nowhere near the cost of these big business conflicts). Unlike Shrub and Skeeter, I feel all Americans should contribute, rich or poor, in the degree to which we can.
"To All Suffering in NSPS. Get your butts into a union protected position! Pay dues and help fight the insanity. The unions are the working person's only protection."
While I must agree with your sentiments, oh Wise One, MOST of the folks in NSPS are:
1. Executives (or at least our version of them), and therefore not entitled to union membership. 2. Enablers of this foul system. 3. Apparently, according to many of the responses from our fellow commentors, happy with their lot; except this time of the year.
Please forgive any sarcasm you may hear, I understand that most of us:
A. Agree, in principle, with PfP; just not this aberration. B. Most of those in the NSBS actually agree with us as to the unfairness and inherent inequity, per studies quoted in stories found here that actually asked significant numbers of participants. C. Didn't know what they had until it was gone.
Please consider... if the Big Wigs pushing this system ain't happy with it, what makes you think the Little Guy will be?
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65756
If you're disappointed with your salary, get another job or start your own business. A 3.9% increase is a great increase in this abysmal economy.
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65737
For the NSPS employees, you get 60% of the 2.9% (1.74%) plus the locality adjustment on top of your NSPS payout. I got a larger raise under NSPS than GS by nearly 50%.
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65709
To Jackson Richards who posted 12/23rd - thank you. I'm in full concurrence with your sentiment. I too am grateful for a job which upholds pay raises in an economy such as this. While I am not a 100% believer in NSPS, it's a great time to be federally employed. Many more out there should be so lucky. Cheers.
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65595
For all those whining about only getting a "valued" employee NSPS rating....did it ever occur to you that maybe that's the rating you earned? Everyone thinks they are a top performer and the glue that holds their organization together. Fact is that the majority of employees of any organization (federal or industry) are just average performers. NSPS doesn't allow for any more favortism than the GS rating system. There has always been the situation that if if your Boss doesn't like you, he/she can hurt you come rating time. Stop whining about NSPS and do your job.
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65577
For AF civilians covered under NSPS, AFPC has said that anyone that received a rating of "3" or higher will receive their sahres as well as a general 1.74% pay raise on top of their share raise.
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65558
To Anonymous at 9:00 AM. Thanks for the percentages comparing federal pay increases during the Clinton and Bush II administrations. It confirms to me that the NTEU union loves to bash Republicans even though they produced more for federal pay raises than Clinton. As the saying goes, Kelley's crying all the way to the bank!
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65524
GB11 wrote " I'm in NSPS and I got a "Valued Performer" known as a level 3 and I did not get the base increase of 2.9% as my GS counterparts will." Newsflash-You will receive a rate range adjustment of 1.74% and 1.16% (the remainder) was put in your pay pool funds. You got a 3 so you'll get your increase. That's in addition to your 23% Local Market Supplement that folks in DC area receive.
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65518
Quick accounting of the change in GS15-1 (base)pay under Clinton and Bush:
1993-2001: 19.67% increase
2001-2009: 23.14% increase
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65517
Others have stated it, but considering the dreadful state of unemployment I am [i]very[/] grateful for my good-paying job. The cost of funding the Iraq occupation plays a major part of our teetering economy yet few appear willing to mention it.
To bail out banks and brokers without holding them to generally-accepted accounting principles (GAAP); to float auto manufacturers a loan while they cast off their assemblers and manufacturers; to continue printing money at a clip that would exhaust most conveyer belts while continuing to lower the prime interest rate (there's nearly nothing left to lower)--these are bills the payment of which relies heavily on the "come," makes me leery of wondering where the money comes from to finance federal pay raises as well as to continue paying social security, government and military retirements.
I am really doubtful of any scenario other than a bleak one for many presidential administrations to come.
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65515
I'm just happy I still have a job when most people in our country are losing thiers. I guess I am not your normal Washingtonian.
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65513
All these complaints about the raise and how many people lost their jobs last month?
Merry Christmas!
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65506
It is nice that feds are getting a 3.9% raise, however those of us under NSPS will not get this and personnel cannot tell us if we will even get a portion of it (I guess it is a secret). Obama - are you listening? How about GAO? This awful system needs to be done away with; it promotes cronyism and the good old boy network. It also more often than not, adversely impacts employees pensions.
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65490
Seems everyone has forgotten that Twig wanted to give us 2.9%. CONGRESS gave us 3.9%.
Thank Congress, not the Shoe Target.
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65487
Once again the employees of Hawaii, Alaska and teh territories get screwed and fall even further behind on pay. While congress voted to increase the pay of Federal Judges and of course their own healthy pay raise, they failed (the House) to acto on the Locality issue for Alaska and Hawaii. We get the 2.9 only or less if they can figure out how to get away with it.
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65485
How were the total raises calculated on the new Locality Rate Table? Some areas with lower locality pay wound up with higer overall raises than areas with higher rates.
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65484
As a federal employee in these difficult times, I am thankful to be gainfully employed in a stable position and am grateful for any pay raise. I suspect that future COLA's will be impacted by the current slowdown in the economy, so be thankful for what we are receiving.
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65482
To All Suffering in NSPS. Get your butts into a union protected position! Pay dues and help fight the insanity. The unions are the working person's only protection.
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65477
What about the people who have been forced to be in the disaster call NSPS?
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65474
Yes, I agree with Billy Smith. In about 5 years special rate will equal locality pay!!!! We should also get the locality increase in the special pay.
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65473
So as we wave good-bye to President Bush at least we feds will have a smile on our face! Maybe not so fond memories but at least a little stimulas funds in our pocket for the economy he leaves behind. All his supporters can consider it a final payoff!
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65470
Good Grief! People are loosing their jobs and homes all across the country and some of you are complaining about not getting enough of a raise. You should be ashamed of yourselves. But I doubt you will be.
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65469
I am thankful that at least we have one pay raise in the family because my wife who works for the Montgomery County Public Schools had their negiated oay increase taken away due to county''s budget crisis. And we all know that teachers work harder and are paid substantially less than feds.
For the feds to complain about the pay raise has a potential of makeing the public and elected officials mad. We should be thankful that we have decent pay and benefits and job safety which are hard to come by in a recession/depression.
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65467
Three cheers for the comments by the Finance Guy! Thousands of people are getting laid off every other day right now, and all Kelly can lament is that Bush put down 2.9% on a piece of paper instead of 3.9%. Has she seen the deficit lately? Does she realize what it's going to be a year from now? When will the whining stop? I guess she has to justify her job somehow.
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65465
We went under NSPS this year so we will not get the congress approved pay raise. My contribution into the pay pool was over $4,000 (pay raise and incentive program) of which I received only 43% in return in shares. This is what I received this year as a valued employee. I feel I lost $2,400 the first year and will lose even more next year with a lower base salary as a starting point. Our pay pool had no role model and 85% were considered valued employees. If all the valued employee only received 43% of their contribution where did the rest of the pool go to. I would imagine supervisors and their buddies.
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65461
The locality pay has nothing to do with COLA. It is a supplemental pay to put federal salaries in a more competitive position relative to local labor markets. The price of bread or gas is Irrelevant!
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65459
On average we got smaller total increases under Clinton than Bush. But don't let the fact get in the way of a good story Ms. Kelly. Lets track the increases under BHO as compared to Ms. Kelly response. You will hear nothing from her.
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65455
Special Salary Rate Table (SSRT) employees get less money AGAIN. For the past several years, SSRT employees have failed to keep up with their Standard Salary peers when it comes to raises. They keep getting the base pay raise plus locality pay and we only get the base pay raise. The bean counters say that we are not authorized locality pay because we get the special salary rate. The only problem is that the special salary rate tables (i.e. 999B) have not been updated for years. I said it before and I'll say it again; A loaf of bread and a gallon of milk increased in price for me just as much as it did for the folks getting locality pay. The special salary rate has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with locality pay. Any way you try to crunch the numbers, folks on the Special Salary Rate tables have a net loss compared to their peers. It's not right!
Enough complaining, here's the solution: EVERYBODY in the same geographic area gets the same locality. Then, if it's determined that a special salary incentive is warranted, it should be above and beyond the base pay w/locality pay. At least then we will be able to ompare apples to apples and oranges to oranges.
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65451
So NTEU Union President Kelly is disappointed with "this administration" over the pay raise. Did she feel the same way with Clueless Clinton or Truly Clueless Carter and how they treated our pay raises or does she, like so many other liberal left wing union members just love to bash President Bush on anything? For crying out loud, it's not going to kill you to thank the President for something.
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65450
I am disappointed because Kansas City area employees (and St. Louis, Iowa and Nebraska) do not get locality pay increase, not on the locality pay tablet list. It has been 3 or 4 years in a row. Why don't we get one? Ann
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65444
Again, They include the locality within the overall payraise! This was written and intended to be separate and disntinct from the general payraise to eventually catch up with the private sector. Another scapegoat and avoidance of policy. Even though we make note of this it does not help, unless the powers above put an end to this and follow what was originally intended by the law. Let's hold them responsible!
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65441
What a great Christmas gift! I wasn't expecting an increase in locality this year.
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65437
Must be nice...while corporate america is suffering and suspending merit raises, bonus, the federal government is disappointed with it's 3.9% guaranteed raise. We deserve the increase just as much as you do.
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65432
I have to agree with Coleen sometimes raises are need to keep high quality people. Unfortunately she doesn't go far enough since everyone gets this raise with includes poor quality and non performers as well. To be fair to the taxpayers a raise for the top 20% of the workforce would be appropriate, it should have been paid for by reducing the wages of those who don't contribute. That way there would have been no cost to the taxpayers
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65427
All the pay raise information is on GS and executive pay. What about the few people that are stuck in the NSPS system? Nothing is every said about our pay.
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65423
I'm not complaining, I happen to feel our salaries are adequate and fair in most cases. I do wonder, however, how the gross increase is determined. It seems logical that the higher the locality rate, the higher the gross increase. If my logic is correct very high cost areas like SF, LA and NY which have locality rates of 34.35%, 26.51% 27.96%, respectively should have a higher Gross Increase than Washington,(23.10%) Based on the published salary tables the locality rate/Gross Increase is 34.35/4.31, 26.581/3.93, 27.96/4.20 and the the winner Washington 23.10/4.78.
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65421
The unions are NEVER happy. They remind me of Harry "big disappointment" Reid. Wait until Obama proposessmaller raises than Bush. The tough times ahaed are coming for Federal and State workers time for us to take a 10-20% pay cut as well. Gov't is too big and bloated.
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65415
Great for GS employees, but what about us employees in No Sense Personnel System(NSPS)? No word yet, a true indicator of the state of the system!
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65396
Thank you! Many friends and relatives are getting pay cuts or layed off and I get this? I'm not sure this is the right thing for the country. I am afraid we may see cuts in the future and I would rather have a job than this raise. I will pay it forward and be thankful for what I have.
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65386
Thank you Mr. Bush! During the worst of economic times I and many others got a pay raise. Many are losing jobs and I get a pay raise. I'm very grateful to Congress and the Administration. As a federal worker, I am also grateful to the American people for allowing me serve. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
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65384
Let's hear it Bush bashers and whiners, tell me how Obama will give a bigger bump next next year. If thats what you think I have a news flash for ya, DON'T WAIT UP. Can't wait to see what RATC has to say on this column.
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65383
For all you in the GS ranks be thankful for what has been given in these financial turmoil times. On another note I'm in NSPS and I got a "Valued Performer" known as a level 3 and I did not get the base increase of 2.9% as my GS counterparts will. Oh don't think the bonus was anything either when I calculate the package I ended up with 4.58% for the DC area that if I was still a GS employee I would be receiving 4.78%. I still like my job but I have see no value performance in NSPS.
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65378
NSPS employees get no automatic increase and they are civil service employees too!!!!
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65374
Why does NTEU's Kelley single out President Bush II by saying "this administration" has failed to fully implement the 1990 FEPCA law that established locality pay? She knows darn well that President Clinton did the same thing prior to President Bush II.
Oh, yea, she doesn't want that to be known to the new Obama administration so she can make it sound like its the fault of those darn Republicans!
But, hey, Colleen don't forget who the president was when FEPCA of 1990 was passed! Yes, Republican president Bush I!
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65364
Personally I am extremely thrilled to be getting a pay raise when so many out there don't even have a job. Of course I'm sure there will be the usual Bush Bashing whiners out there that will find a reason to critisize him. Thank you Mr President and Merry Christmas.
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65348
It's nice that Washington-Northern Virginia gets a 4.78%, but your increase came out of the pockets of Rest of US, who will naturally get less than 3.9%. And for those under NSPS we have no clue what we are going to get. Pay for parity with Military - it doesn't exist.
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