Congress introduces AFGE proposal for 5.3% pay raise

Federal employees deserve catch-up contribution to counter years of lost wages

News provided by

American Federation of Government Employees

Feb 12, 2016, 01:59 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. today issued the following statement:

"It's time to raise wages for all working families in this country, and the federal government should serve as the model for all other employers to follow. This is why AFGE strongly supports the 'Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act' introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia. This legislation will provide federal workers with a 5.3% pay raise next year.

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Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia has introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, which would provide federal workers with a 5.3% pay raise next year. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 670,000 federal and D.C. government workers, proposed the 5.3% raise after President Obama announced a 1.6% increase in his 2017 budget. "Federal employees have gone far too long without a decent wage increase, resulting in a 6.5% drop in their standard of living since the start of the decade," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said.
Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia has introduced the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, which would provide federal workers with a 5.3% pay raise next year. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 670,000 federal and D.C. government workers, proposed the 5.3% raise after President Obama announced a 1.6% increase in his 2017 budget. "Federal employees have gone far too long without a decent wage increase, resulting in a 6.5% drop in their standard of living since the start of the decade," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said.

"AFGE has led the call for a 5.3% pay raise and I'm incredibly grateful for the strong support our proposal has received. Federal employees have gone far too long without a decent wage increase, resulting in a 6.5% drop in their standard of living since the start of the decade.

"Federal employees are just like other workers – they are struggling to keep up with house and car payments, student loan debt, and rising costs for prescriptions and groceries and other essentials.

"We are not asking for any special treatment, just a catch-up contribution to start making up for the $182 billion that federal employees personally sacrificed to help get our nation through the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression.

"As a result of six years of low to no pay raises, the purchasing power of federal paychecks has declined substantially. The women and men who keep this country running deserve a standard of living that keeps up with inflation and rising wages, which is why this catch-up contribution is long overdue. Congress must pass this legislation."

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

Related Links

http://www.afge.org

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