Summer 2008: NTEU has had great success in including the 3.9 percent pay raise in major legislative vehicles moving forward in both Houses of Congress. This is one of the union’s top legislative priorities for the year.

The military and civilian pay increase has historically been determined by using the Employment Cost Index (ECI), currently at 3.4 percent, plus an additional one-half percent. The 3.9 percent amount is in keeping with this precedent and moves a step forward to closing the unjust pay gaps both sectors face with comparable jobs in the private sector.

7/30/08: With the August recess break nearly upon us, NTEU has had great success in including the 3.9 percent pay raise in major legislative vehicles moving forward in both Houses of Congress. This is one of the union's top legislative priorities for the year.

7/10/08: The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a fiscal 2009 funding bill that would provide federal civilian employees with a 3.9 percent pay raise — a full percentage point higher than that proposed by the White House, and an amount in step with a 2009 military pay raise moving through Congress. The committee also approved fiscal 2009 funding of $938 million for the Securities and Exchange Commission -- $25 million more than the White House proposal.

7/8/08: Today’s approval by a key Senate subcommittee of a 3.9 percent pay raise in 2009 for federal civilian employees is another welcome step forward in securing a fair and reasonable increase that also will aid federal agency recruitment and retention efforts. This action by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is a reflection of the understanding of its members of the continuing contributions to our nation of the federal workforce.

6/26/08: The House Appropriations Committee yesterday provided strong support for an NTEU-backed 3.9 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees next year in its markup of the fiscal 2009 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. This would match the 2009 raise for members of the military moving through Congress and continue the long tradition of military-civilian pay parity.

6/17/08: The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee today approved a 3.9% pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2009. This is a full 1 percent higher than the administration's proposed increase of 2.9%. NTEU has been working hard for the 3.9% increase.

6/6/05: On June 5, 2008, the House passed S. Con Res. 70, the FY 2009 final budget conference agreement with pay parity language intact. The House had included the NTEU-backed pay parity language in its version of the bill; however, the Senate had not included it. At NTEU’s urging, the final package included pay parity and has now been passed by the House and Senate.

May, 2008:

Pay Raise Work Continues

On May 7, 2008, the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the Armed Services Committee voted out its portion of the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 5658) with a provision that provides a 3.9 percent pay raise for the military.

The measure was passed by the full House Armed Services Committee on May 14, 2008. The subcommittee’s action follows the Senate Armed Services Committee’s reported bill last week with an identical raise.

NTEU has worked hard to achieve this pay raise recommendation on both sides of Congress. It is in the interest of pay parity and the basis of our work to fight for a 3.9 percent pay raise for federal employees.

5/22/08: Language stating that it is the sense of Congress that there should be pay parity between military and civilian employees was included in S. Con. Res. 70, the 2009 Budget Resolution Conference Agreement that is expected to be voted on by the House and Senate by the end of this week. The language can be found in section 518 of the resolution.

5/7/08: On May 7, 2008, the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the Armed Services Committee voted out its portion of the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 5658) with a provision that provides a 3.9 percent pay raise for the military.

5/1/08: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley today applauded a key Senate committee for approving a bill that would provide a 3.9 percent pay raise for military personnel in fiscal year 2009, a half a percent more than the President requested. She also renewed her call to Congress to continue the long tradition of pay parity between federal civilian employees and members of the military.

4/24/08: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley today wrote to every member of the Senate Personnel Subcommittee lending NTEU’s support to the Military Coalition’s testimony requesting a 3.9 percent pay raise for military personnel. She pointed out that, like the military, federal civilian workers serve their country faithfully in defending the homeland, in keeping our borders safe and our government systems operational. Like the military we are also requesting a 3.9 percent pay raise, which amounts to one-half percent above the ECI.

3/25/08: Last week, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley wrote to every member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel in support of a higher pay raise than the administration proposed. To see a copy of one of these letters, click here, Kelley Letter.

Legislative NewsMarch 2008: In early March, NTEU leaders from chapters and agencies across the nation assembled to bring the voice of federal workers to Capitol Hill. The conference was a tremendous success. From Maine to California, members of Congress heard directly from NTEU leaders on representational issues of importance to federal employees. From these meetings, members of Congress agreed to cosponsor important pro-federal employee legislation, agreed to work with NTEU on federal employee issues, and pledged to vote against legislation that would cut back on retirement and health insurance.

Senator James Webb (D-VA) and Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD) spoke at the conference to outline potential congressional action on federal employee pay, retirement, health care, and labor rights. During the week, hundreds of NTEU members and DHS Secretary

March 2008: On March 13, the House of Representatives approved a budget resolution that includes language to provide pay parity for federal civilian and military employees in fiscal 2009, as well as significant funds to reduce the backlog of disability determination cases at the Social Security Administration (SSA). The language — which does not set a figure for the salary increase but calls for equal amounts for both groups — was applauded by NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.

2/5/08: Yesterday, President Bush submitted his budget proposal to Congress, which will now begin the processing of making appropriations for FY 2009. The budget proposes a 2.9 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees. NTEU believes that this pay proposal is insufficient to stop the loss of skilled, experienced and dedicated employees from a wide range of federal agencies in the coming years. The proposed budget would do nothing to close the 23 percent pay gap between federal and private sector workers.

2/4/08: The administration’s proposal for a 2.9 percent pay raise in 2009 for federal civilian employees will accelerate sharply the loss of skilled, experienced and dedicated employees from a wide range of federal agencies in coming years, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley said today. She called for a raise of 3.9 percent next year for both civilian employees and members of the military.

2/1/08: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley this week welcomed a bipartisan letter from key Washington area members of the House of Representatives—led by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)—to President Bush calling for a continuation of the long tradition of civilian-military parity in federal pay increases. The White House’s 2009 budget blueprint, containing federal pay proposals, will be made public next week.

January 2008: In an important victory for federal employees, on December 26, 2007, President Bush signed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal 2008 that contains the 3.5% federal employee pay raise that NTEU has been advocating for on Capitol Hill for many months.

1/7/08: On Friday, President Bush signed an executive order implementing the federal employee pay raise for 2008 that was included in the omnibus spending bill for FY 2008.

The executive order specifies how the average 3.5% pay raise will be divided between base and locality pay. Under the executive order, 2.5 percent of the increase will be distributed through base pay, and 1 percent through locality pay.

12/28/07: In a number of important ways, the president’s signature this week on the fiscal 2008 omnibus appropriations bill represents a major victory for federal workers and the federal government’s ability to attract and retain talented, experienced workers, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley recently noted.

12/19/07: With final House action pending that will send the fiscal 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill to the White House for the president’s signature, NTEU will secure major legislative goals, including a 3.5 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees and government-wide restrictions that will result in a more level playing field for federal workers in the battle for federal work.

“This important measure will assure continuity of government operations and contain a number of provisions impacting federal workers in positive ways,” said NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.

12/17/07: Early this morning the details of the comprehensive omnibus appropriations package for fiscal year 2008 became available. Included in the omnibus bill is the 3.5 percent federal employee pay raise and language to reform the A-76 contracting out process. The package will be considered as part of H.R. 2764, as early as tomorrow in the House of Representatives.

12/17/07: A continuing resolution, funding critical government programs and services, without interruption, through Friday, Dec. 21, was approved by Congress and signed by the President Friday.

Congressional leaders plan to wrap the eleven outstanding funding bills into an omnibus package this week.

NTEU is optimistic that any fiscal 2008 omnibus bill will include a bipartisan-supported 3.5 percent pay increase. NTEU also is closely monitoring proposed legislation to ensure adequate agency funding.

Throughout the appropriations process, NTEU will keep you updated on our efforts.

12/14/07: As you know, most agencies of the federal government have been running on a Continuing Resolution (CR) since September 30, 2007, the end of the fiscal year. Last night Congress passed another CR to extend agency funding through December 21, 2007. This legislation has now been sent to the President for his signature. If the President signs the CR into law before the end of the week, there will be no government shutdown before December 21st.

11/29/07: The alternative pay plan issued by the White House this week calling for an average 3 percent federal pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2008 is disappointing and a disservice to the talented, dedicated and experienced federal employees who serve the public every day, said NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.

10/15/07: As the National President of NTEU, Colleen Kelley serves on the Federal Salary Council (FSC or Council), an advisory body created under the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA) to advise the President’s Pay Agent on implementation of the locality pay program established by FEPCA. NTEU National Executive Vice President Frank Ferris is also a member of the Council.

10/4/07: Federal employees now make an average of 23 percent less in salaries than their counterparts in the private sector, according to new data released yesterday by the Federal Salary Council (FSC).

That federal employees earn less than employees doing similar work in the private sector has long been acknowledged but new compensation surveys using more refined data, performed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and released today by the FSC, indicate that the gap is larger than previously thought. The advisory body put the growth in the public-private pay gap over the past year at six percentage points, higher than it had anticipated.

9/28/07: Late yesterday, in a vote of 94-1, the Senate passed H.J. Res. 52, the FY 2008 Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds the government agencies at FY 2007 levels until November 16, 2007. Earlier, as reported yesterday, the House passed the resolution by 404-14. The measure now goes to the White House where it is expected to be signed by the President.

9/27/07: On September 30, 2007, the federal government’s fiscal year ends. Since 1995 when, under then House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Congress failed to pass measures funding the government and many agencies shut down, NTEU members have been anxious as to the possibility of another shut down.