9/1/09: President Obama yesterday sent another letter to Congress requesting a 2% pay raise for federal employees in January. In July, the House approved a 2% raise, but the Senate has been pushing for a 2.9% raise that would provide pay parity between military and civilian raises. NTEU is strongly supporting the 2.9% raise. 

The President cited the "national emergency" that has existed since 9/11/01, the "serious economic conditions" currently facing the nation, and increasing demands on the federal government. 

If Congress fails to pass a federal pay raise (which is unlikely), last year’s increase in the Employment Cost Index (which was 2.9 percent) would automatically become the average pay raise for federal employees without a presidential communication determining an alternative pay raise.

"NTEU is disappointed that the administration continues advocating for a 2.0 percent pay increase for civilian federal employees in 2010," NTEU National President Colleen Kelley responded yesterday. "NTEU continues to support the principle of military and civilian pay parity and will continue to work to include an amount equal to the military raise, whether it is 2.9 percent or 3.4 percent."

"NTEU recognizes that it has been a very difficult year for the economy," she went on, "however pay parity is an important and accepted principle and reflects the reality that civilian and military workers both contribute strongly to our country and deserve the same percentage pay increase."