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.

Both the House and Senate versions of the 2009 Department of Defense Authorization bills include the NTEU supported military pay raises of 3.9 percent, rather than the 3.4 percent proposed by the administration. The administration proposed only a 2.9 percent raise for civilian employees.

While legislation setting the civilian raise for 2009 has not yet been introduced in the House or Senate, the pay parity language coupled with the 3.9 percent pay raise for the military puts us in a good position to deliver a 3.9 percent pay raise for federal employees next year.

NTEU Chapter 293 will keep you informed of further action on this issue as it occurs.