Legislation Introduced to Give Federal Employees a 3.2% Pay Raise in 2018

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to give federal employees a 3.2% pay raise in 2018.

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to give the federal workforce a 3.2% pay raise next year.

The bill, known as the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act is sponsored by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).

The legislation arrives at the 3.2% figure by taking the difference between last year’s 5.3% request and what federal workers ultimately got in 2017 (2.1%). Connolly says this wage adjustment restores years of lost wage increases to federal employees.

In a statement on the legislation, Connolly said:

They’ve [federal employees] endured shutdowns and furloughs, attacks on pay and benefits, and an across-the-board hiring freeze. Their hard work was questioned. Now, thanks to the Armageddon Rule, even individual positions could be on the congressional chopping block.

This is no way to treat a workforce. The FAIR Act is a matter of justice. Federal employees work hard, serve honorably, and they deserve fair compensation.

Companion legislation has also been introduced in the Senate by Brian Schatz (D-HI). Both bills would give federal workers a 3.2% pay raise.

Schatz has introduced similar legislation in the past. Last March, for example, he followed Gerry Connolly’s lead and introduced a bill that would have provided a 5.3% pay raise for the federal workforce in 2017.

AFGE had also pushed for a higher pay raise in 2017, saying that federal employees should receive a 5.3% pay raise.

Despite the efforts of both lawmakers and the union, federal employees ultimately got an average 2.1% pay raise in 2017.

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.