President's Perspective, January 2008: Given the recent enactment of the 2008 3.5% pay raise, now is good time to consider part of the representation that your union dues make possible every year– NTEU’s tireless lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill to bring you the best pay raises possible. Indeed, in every year but one since 2002, NTEU’s efforts led directly to higher average raises than those that were originally proposed by the administration:

• 2002: 3.6% increased to 4.6%
• 2003: 2.6% increased to 4.1%
• 2004: 2.0% increased to 4.1%
• 2005: 1.5% increased to 3.5%
• 2006: 2.3% increased to 3.1%
• 2007: 1.8% enacted
• 2008: 3.0% increased to 3.5%

These higher pay raises compound over time and add up to real money. Consider two examples which demonstrate just how much additional cash a hypothetical employee made from 2002 through 2008, based on the average pay raise obtained by NTEU’s efforts (without merit pay).

If you were making $50,000 in 2001, by 2008 you would be making $63,722 – that’s over $4,400 more per year than the $59,307 you would be making under the administration’s proposals. During the period from 2002-2008, the administration’s proposals would have paid you a total of approximately $387,078, but NTEU ensured that you made $407,849 instead – that’s over $20,000 more over seven years.

If you were making $125,000 in 2001, by 2008 you would be making $159,304 – that’s over $11,000 more per year than the $148,268 you would be making under the administration’s proposals. During the period from 2002-2008, the administration’s proposals would have paid you a total of approximately $1,092,691, but NTEU ensured that you made $1,144,618 instead–that’s over $51,000 more over seven years.

Without NTEU working on your behalf, you would never have received those substantially higher pay raises. But, without dues from supportive union members like you, NTEU would not have had the resources to continue this important work. Thanks for your support!

by Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman