4/25/07: The 2008 federal pay raise is one of the important issues under consideration on both sides of Congress. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees continue to hold hearings on federal agencies’ budgets for fiscal year 2008 and, in the upcoming weeks, legislation addressing federal employees’ and military pay will be proposed. In addition to deliberations by the subcommittees with jurisdiction over federal employees’ pay, the military pay raise is being considered by the House and Senate Subcommittees on Defense Appropriations and by the Armed Services authorizing committees.

NTEU has repeatedly pointed out to many members of Congress that both the military and federal workers received a pay raise that equaled the Employment Cost Index plus ½ percent in past years. For 2008, this would amount to a 3.5 percent raise, up ½ percent from the administration’s FY 2008 budget submission. NTEU believes that this should continue to be the precedent for civilian and military pay. Federal employees are paid 13 percent less than their private sector counterparts, and a raise of 3.5 percent will represent a small step to closing the pay gap.

NTEU will continue to work with Congress to promote a fair pay raise of 3.5 percent. Meanwhile, for more information on this issue and to find out how you can help, you can visit CAPWIZ.