Re: Get Real!

The average salary figure is compiled by the homework done by the U.S. Department of Commerce and is an average for the federal workforce. There is a breakdown with more information by grade and pay range at:
http://www.fedsmith.com/article/2100/federal-employees-their-pay-how-they-stack.html

Re: Get Real!

To editor Fed Smith,
Something makes no sense here. I cannot say what the average salary is. However, the average benefits of $40,000 makes no sense. I get medical of about $10000. I get a match on my CSRS contributions of about $5600. The other items are very immaterial. Where is the $40000 average?
Second-the issue is presented improperly. One must compare the same jobs in the same locality to get an accurate reading of our pay to the private sector. That is not presented here.

Re: TIRED OF PAYING FOR EVERYONE'S REBATES

You were just as eligable for all the tax credits that everyone else was. Inflation is at negative and to be honest CS should we losing 3% of their current salary to reflect the actual economy

Re: TIRED OF PAYING FOR EVERYONE'S REBATES

To czar,
You do not know that he was just as eligible as everyone. For example, those who used common sense and did not buy behemoths for cars would not be eligible for the $4500-3500 credit. This is not to critisize the program, just a statement of fact.
Our salaries are not based on inflation. They are based on something else. That something else says we should get an 18% increase, not a 3% decrease. That is the complaint.

Re: TIRED OF PAYING FOR EVERYONE'S REBATES

Worker, You just got an 18% increase didn't you read Barak's letter to Congress. Are you saying our president is incompetent and can't do math??

Re: TIRED OF PAYING FOR EVERYONE'S REBATES

To Czar,
Just read the letter. Nowhere does it say that we are getting an 18% raise. it does say we are entitled to an 18% raise, but we are getting a 2% raise.
Why doesn't the right wing tell the truth? Why does the right wing attribute lack of math ability to Obama, when Bush was the less than competent president?

Re: Just Rolling in it!

Your post is on point. I'm sure most of the federal workforce shares the same concern. The increase in my insurance plan certainly surpassed last years pay increase and I'm almost positive it will again this year. While the average federal worker is supposedly earning in excess of $79,000 any pay raise is negated if insurance premiums and cost of living increases by twice as much.

Re: Just Rolling in it!

Open season is coming around. You might want to take a look at some of the plans other than Blue Cross. Unless you have a unique health condition, there are much cheaper plans that are still excellent.

Re: Just Rolling in it!

If your increase in your healthcare premiums were more than you pay increase, you must be working for someone other than CS. No one's premiums exceeded their raise it was mathematically impossible

Re: Just Rolling in it!

To diversity manager-I mean military retiree,
Actually, it has happened for lower grade people. The raise in our medical contributions exceeded the pay increase after withholding. Check during the Reagan years.

Re: Just Rolling in it!

Civil Engineer, I agree. I think the whole problem with the Health Care is the shareholders and stockholders of insurance companies, hospital companies, etc. who feed off of those who need care. Greed

Re: PAY

I agree that lower grade employees should get higher increases. That's what I've always said about military personnel as well. It's astonishing to believe that an officer earning $10,000 +/month needs a $2,000 + monthly housing allowance to survive. I know the cost of living in the DC metro area is high, but I could surely survive on just $10,000+/month. The housing allowances are based on rank;the higher the rank the more you're entitled to. That system should be revamped to truly help those who need the help.

Re: PAY

Looking at what CS contribute to DOD anyone higher than a GS6 is over graded and paid

Re: PAY

Get promoted!! Pay should be based on your grade, which is based on your education , complexity of your job, amount of responsiblity and/or number of personnel and equipment you supervise. What incentive would there be to advance if larger pay increases were given for being of lower grade with less responsiblity so they could live at a higher standard? This defeats the basic tenant that America is the land of opportunity work hard and move up!

Re: PAY

I don't know about you, but I put in 7 (lower paid than a grade 6) years getting an education in order not to have to take a grade 6 type job for life. If grade 6s are underpaid for what they do, then raise their pay. But I don't see how why it should come at the expense of the rest of the workforce.

The grade 6s I have known have included and still include a lot of good, hardworking people. But they all went home at 5, and still do so, while I often worked (not so much any more) on into the night, without any additional pay (not for lawyers) to make sure that my work got out on a timely basis. And those good people eventually became 7s and even 11s or 12s or even better.

Re: Good Politics? President...

You have a point Wise old owl. It is hard to keep moral up when your boss kicks you in the butt time and time again for doing your job over and beyond the call of duty which a lot of us fed workers do.