6/2/10:  At the end of last week, the Senate defeated an amendment by Senators Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John McCain (R-AZ) to freeze federal pay next year and to cap the numbers of federal employees in federal agencies, by a vote of 53-45.  NTEU had worked with the Senate Appropriations Committee to defeat the amendment. We also sent this letter to every U.S. Senator urging opposition to the amendment. 

The House followed the Senate in blocking a proposal that would have imposed a pay freeze on federal pay until 2011. The House vote was 227 to 183.

NTEU was loud and clear in its opposition to such an action and made sure every member of Congress knew this position. President Colleen M. Kelley sent letters to each House and Senate member underscoring the important work you perform everyday and the role of a pay increase in acknowledging your continuing contributions (Link to House Letter, Link to Senate Letter). NTEU also argued that federal pay lags behind that of the private sector by an average of 22 percent, a disparity that puts the government at a disadvantage with the private sector in hiring.

Twice last week NTEU successfully blocked an effort to freeze your pay -- but we may see this effort come up again. NTEU firmly believes that freezing the pay of federal employees who perform so many vital services is the wrong course of action for the nation.

Please be assured that NTEU will remain vigilant to any effort to freeze pay or cap numbers of federal employees, and fight to defeat any such proposals. Thank you to the dues paying members of Chapter 293, without whom we would have no voice at all on the Hill when these sorts of positions are taken by those who do not support federal employees and their mission.

To find out what you can do, go to www.nteu.org.