Re: SUPPORT

Just because the President and Congress differ on their recommendation for a pay raise doesn't mean "this president does not support the federal employee". Don't fall into that trap, you're being duped by politicians spewing out partisan talking points.

There are partisan motives involved, budget considerations, all sorts of other things that make this more complicated than the political windbags would have you believe.

Re: SUPPORT

It's called ideaolgy. They have a belief system that is essentially anti-government worker. That's really all there is to it!! Certain "conservatives" and especially neo-cons are this way. Check out the Hoover Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other like groups. Examine their positions of all government workers. At the same time, they will throw all kinds of money at government contractors without hesitation!! They wish for a world, in which government is down sized, criticized, and disparaged into nearly nothing. And when government operations fail, they will say look at those awfull and expensive government workers. WE NEED MORE CONTRACTORS. That's it in a nutshell.

Re: SUPPORT

Supply Planner:

A few years ago Bush said that he didn't consider civil service to be of much worth. THat was the only time I ever sent a letter to the White House.

The trend to contracting out is another sign that he really doesn't much respect us.

The last time I saw a study on the matter the assessment was that it takes about 9 people to keep 1 warfighter in the field. Since we are an integral part of the system that keeps the warfighter suppled I would think that we deserve a little respect.

The infrastructure of our lives depend on a healthy civil service. It is a shame that it is being eroded away to serve short term goals.

Re: SUPPORT

I dont understand why Washington DC is going to get a higher locality increase than Chicago. In Chicago our pay gap is getting wider than in Washington. I guess everyone in Washington is protecting their own without thinking about who deserves the increases the most.

Re: Following the Annual Federal Pay Raise Minuet

Conservative philosophy has always been smaller government and less federal involvment in our lives. Liberal philosophy has always been bigger government and more federal involvment in our lives. You're taking it to the nth degree with absurd partisan exaggerations.

Don't be taken in by the far left and far right nutcases.

Re: Federal Employee Pay Raise

Most employees are working towards a goal (or should be) and that goal is retirement. Each pay raise helps your retirement annuity get a little bigger. The bigger the pay raise the bigger the retirement annuity. When you retire your retirement is about 40 percent of your pre-retirement salary so everyone benefits from a larger pay increase each year. The President doesn't see this but Congress seems to understand slightly better.

Re: Federal Employee Pay Raise

This is not actually a PAY Raise it allows me to break even and just barely cover the increased costs of all my basic expenses which have risen substantually since 1 year ago. Gasoline, food etc.

Re: OK

$156..really? Is that all?? Well let's see, where I'm at that means 4 and a half tanks of gas to me at $3 a gallon. That allows me to go to work for 2 months!

Re: OK

It may only be $156 for you but the difference between 3 and 3.5 is about 15% for everybody.

Re: OK

"It may only be $156 for you but the difference between 3 and 3.5 is about 15% for everybody. "

Is anyone else scratching their head trying to figure out what this means?

Re: OK

It's not that confusing. .5% over 3% is about an additional 15%. It's an additional 15% on the increase though. It's not as though the increase itself is 15%. 15% of 3% doesn't seem like all that much to me. That's the problem.

Re: OK

As an accountant I would hope that you understand the effect of a 0.5% difference compounded throughout your life. This has the greater effect the younger you are if you plan to remain in government service.

Re: Average Compensation Rate $111,180

You're looking just at your situation and those around you. The reality is that situations are different for everybody in different parts of the country. In larger cities, the pay is higher, but so is the cost of living so that's understandable. I know people in private sector jobs who are paid far less than federal workers I know and have fewer benefits and don't have the right equipment they need to do their jobs. There's always a bigger picture than what we can immediately see ourselves.