FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 03, 2020
December 03, 2020
Contact:
Brittany Holder
202-297-7244
[email protected]
Largest Federal Employee Union Calls White House Backtrack on Pay Bump for Front-Line Feds “Demeaning, Dishonest and Cruel”
Categories:
Washington, D.C., White House
President Trump flip-flops on his plan to boost pay for federal workers, says those serving on the front lines of pandemic like correctional officers, federal law enforcement, and those caring for veterans should have pay frozen
WASHINGTON – The head of the largest federal employee union is condemning President Trump for his support of Senate Republicans’ proposal to freeze pay for front-line civilian federal workers after previously proposing a 1% increase for 2021.
In November, the Republican-led Senate proposed freezing wages for civilian federal workers next year in its package of fiscal 2021 appropriations bill. This week, the Trump Administration sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman affirming their support of a pay freeze – flip-flopping on their earlier call for a 1 percent increase as asked for in the president’ budget proposal in February.
American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley issued the following statement:
“The fact that President Trump backtracked on his promise of a pay increase is insulting to the federal workers risking their lives on the front lines of this pandemic to ensure government services go uninterrupted, our prisons stay secure, our military stays ready, airline passengers stay safe, and our veterans get the care they need.
“The Trump Administration knows that federal employees have been underpaid for years and deserve a raise – which is why they proposed a pay increase in the first place. Now that the election results are in, they are reneging on that promise, and that’s just demeaning, dishonest, and cruel.
“A pay freeze further shows how the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans are in lockstep on hollowing out the federal government – making it that much harder to respond to national crises like the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s sad that even on his way out, President Trump still can’t resist the opportunity to stick it to the government workers he so often vilified during his four years in office. If he wants to throw a temper tantrum over the American people’s decision, he needs to leave federal employees out of it.
“There is no justification for denying hardworking employees their well-deserved pay increase next year. We call on lawmakers to reject this disrespectful proposal.”
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