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Federal Daily News

Unions ask lawmakers to spare feds in fiscal cliff deal

A group representing more than 300,000 federal workers is asking Congress to make sure federal employees are not affected by any deal to resolve the threat of sequestration, contending that they have already been impacted enough by government cutbacks.

The Federal Workers Alliance, which comprises 20 federal employee unions, has written a letter to House and Senate leaders urging them to quickly come to an agreement on a budget that will prevent sequestration and avoid going over the so-called "fiscal cliff," but without affecting federal workers.

“Considering that no other group has yet to give anything toward reducing our debt we believe that federal workers have already more than done their part," the letter states.

According to the coalition, feds have contributed $103 billion back to the federal government to reduce the deficit in recent  years through consecutive pay freezes, “modest pensions,” and increases in retirement contributions.

“Every day federal employees provide essential services to the American people, including ensuring the safety of air travel and our food, curing diseases, caring for our soldiers and veterans, protecting our borders, and bringing criminals to justice. The ability to recruit and retain the talented employees necessary to fulfill these critical missions will be further threatened by more reductions in federal employee pay and pension compensation,"  the letter states.

Members of the coalition include, among others, the National Association of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees,  and he American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.


 

Reader comments

Wed, Dec 12, 2012 Bill Chouinard, President AFSCME Local 1653 FAA Washington DC

There is more than enough blame to go around to both sides, but it's time to stop blaming Bush and find a solution. If all government agencies were ordered to fire all contractors, that would go a long way to achieving the 800 million that some of the Congress are trying to achieve. We don't need more taxes, the government wastes more funds that tax rate hikes will generate. Lower taxes, if everyone has more money in their pockets, what will they do? Spend it on taxable items and the vendors will spend it on taxable items and so forth. Leave the Federal employees alone. We have taken a pay freeze for a couple of years now and don't you think that's enough. We've done our share.

Wed, Dec 5, 2012

GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF WORKING WITH THE MILITARY WITH THIRD YEAR OF NO COLA AND THEY CONTINUE TO GET THEM. TRAVEL TO AREAS WHERE THEY ARE AND HAVE TO WORK 10 HOUR DAYS, 7 DAYS A WEEK AND DON'T GET PAID FOR 30 OF THE OT HOURS BECAUSE I CAN NOT MAKE MORE THAN A JUNIOR CONGRESSMAN WHO ONLY PUTS IN 103 DAYS OF THE YEAR, AND THAT IS NOT COUNTING THE TIME THEY ARE OUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE OR SUPPORTING SOMEONE ELSE FOR OFFICE. THEY POINT THE FINGER AT EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES FOR NOT COMING UP WITH A FISCAL BUDGET BEFORE 1 OCTOBER EVERY YEAR.

Wed, Nov 28, 2012 Driz

I have always thought that our single biggest bargaining chip in this whole mess was continuing with the pay freeze. If nothing else it show we have done our part, at least somewhat to solve this mess.

Wed, Nov 28, 2012 Battered Fed

Yeah, tell me how that works out

Wed, Nov 28, 2012

IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO TAKE PAY CUTS.

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