FMA PRESIDENT QUOTED IN WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DETAILING FEDERAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONTAINED IN DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION APPROVED BY CONGRESS - October 23, 2009

Big changes soon for federal employees

By Ed O'Keefe, October 23, Washington Post

All that's missing is President Obama's signature before long-sought workplace changes affecting current and former federal employees take effect.

The Defense authorization bill passed by the Senate Thursday night included alternations to benefits and practices first announced and celebrated roughly two weeks ago. Perhaps the biggest change is that members of the Federal Employees Retirement System will be able to have unused sick leave credited to them when they retire. The provision will be phased in over the next four years.

The legislation passed by a 68 to 29 vote.

"This is a major step forward to helping ensure that FERS-covered employees will soon be on par with their counterparts under the Civil Service Retirement System, who have long been able to credit their sick leave toward their annuity," National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen M. Kelley said in a statement.

Members of the Civil Service Retirement System will also be able to work start working part-time toward the end of their career without jeopardizing their pensions. Agencies will be able to hire back federal retirees under certain conditions and these workers will be able to receive a new salary while keeping their pension.

The bill's passage also means an end to the National Security Personnel System and a suspension of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System. Both are controversial pay-for-performance systems used by Defense Department and intelligence personnel.

"The Senate's decision to move this critical legislation to the President's desk marks a major victory for members of the civil service and American taxpayers alike," Federal Managers Association National President Darryl Perkinson said.

Members of the armed forces also scored some pay and benefits victories. Those that wear the uniform will get 3.4 percent pay raise in 2010, higher than Obama's proposed pay jump. It will also get easier for military voters to vote in elections, thanks to a bipartisan measure cosponsored by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Robert Bennett (R-Utah), and John Cornyn (R-Texas). Their provision requires states to provide military voters with ballots no later than 45 days before an election. States must also provide ballots electronically. Lawmakers also approved more funding to the Pentagon's Federal Voting Assistance Program, which provides election information and assistance to military voters.

"It is the least we can do for our troops to make sure their votes get counted when they are serving overseas," Schumer said. "This bill will remove the barriers that too often conspire to disenfranchise our military men and women."

The White House could not immediately say when the president will sign the authorization bill.

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