FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2003
July 24, 2003
Diane Witiak
(202) 639-6419
(202) 639-6419
AFGE Praises the House Appropriations Committee
For its Approval of 4.1% Increase for All GS & FWS Employees
(Washington, D.C.)-"AFGE applauds the House Appropriations Committee for passing the Hoyer-Moran-Wolf amendment which ensures a 4.1 percent raise for federal employees-whether they are blue collar or white collar workers," said AFGE National President Bobby L. Harnage, Sr., in response to today's action by the House Appropriations Committee.
The amendment-offered by Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.), James Moran (D-Va.) and supported by Chairman Bill Young (R-Fla.)-provides a 4.1 percent raise in 2004 for all federal employees in the General Schedule (GS), Federal Wage System (FWS), the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
"This amendment reflects the time honored tradition of pay parity, whereby federal civilian and military personnel have received the same pay increase for 18 of the last 20 years.
"Whether it's the Wage Grade Munitions Operator or the General Schedule Electronics Engineer, our nation is able to deploy its air, sea and land fleets safely and swiftly thanks to the muscle and logistical support of federal civilian employees. Although the compensation packages given to military personnel are superior to those for federal civilian employees, there is no reason why both groups should not receive the same pay increases.
"It is particularly important that federal civilian employees be fairly compensated in light of the 'human capital crisis.' Close to one-half of the federal civilian workforce will be eligible for retirement by 2005. With both salaries and health insurance benefits substantially below those provided by large private sector firms and state and local governments, the federal government is experiencing great difficulty in the recruitment and retention of civilian employees."
The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, is the largest union for government employees, representing 600,000 federal workers in the United States and overseas, as well as employees of the District of Columbia.
The amendment-offered by Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Frank Wolf (R-Va.), James Moran (D-Va.) and supported by Chairman Bill Young (R-Fla.)-provides a 4.1 percent raise in 2004 for all federal employees in the General Schedule (GS), Federal Wage System (FWS), the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
"This amendment reflects the time honored tradition of pay parity, whereby federal civilian and military personnel have received the same pay increase for 18 of the last 20 years.
"Whether it's the Wage Grade Munitions Operator or the General Schedule Electronics Engineer, our nation is able to deploy its air, sea and land fleets safely and swiftly thanks to the muscle and logistical support of federal civilian employees. Although the compensation packages given to military personnel are superior to those for federal civilian employees, there is no reason why both groups should not receive the same pay increases.
"It is particularly important that federal civilian employees be fairly compensated in light of the 'human capital crisis.' Close to one-half of the federal civilian workforce will be eligible for retirement by 2005. With both salaries and health insurance benefits substantially below those provided by large private sector firms and state and local governments, the federal government is experiencing great difficulty in the recruitment and retention of civilian employees."
The American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, is the largest union for government employees, representing 600,000 federal workers in the United States and overseas, as well as employees of the District of Columbia.
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