AFGE Applauds Bills to Provide Federal Employees with 3.8% Pay Raise in 2016

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. applauded legislation introduced today in the House and Senate to provide federal employees with a 3.8 percent pay raise in 2016.

The House bill was introduced by Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia, while the Senate bill was introduced by Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Ben Cardin of Maryland.

"Federal employees have seen their standard of living deteriorate thanks to a three-year pay freeze, unpaid furloughs, and higher retirement contributions for newer workers," Cox said. "A 3.8 percent pay raise would help federal employees recover some of that lost income, and encourage high caliber workers to work for the government and provide the high quality work that taxpayers expect."

President Cox said the pay raise would help repay government workers for all of the lost wages they have endured.

"For years, federal employees have been bearing the brunt of policies that put slashing the deficit ahead of creating new jobs, and lost $159 billion in earnings because of it," Cox said. "A 3.8 percent increase would provide employees with the fair and meaningful raise that they have earned for the first time this decade."

Cox also applauded Sens. Schatz and Cardin and Rep. Connolly for ensuring that the 3.8 percent raise would apply both to General Schedule employees and hourly workers under the prevailing wage system.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees

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