Federal Managers Association
Press Release
- FMA NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON PROPOSED ONE PERCENT PAY INCREASE - February 24, 2014
Alexandria, VA - The White House announced the President's fiscal year 2015 budget plan will include a one percent pay raise for federal employees. The Executive Branch expects to formally release the plan on March 4, 2014.
As initial reports on President Barack Obama's FY15 budget plan include a one percent pay raise for General Schedule and Wage grade employees, Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Patricia Niehaus issued the following comments:
"2013 proved difficult for federal employees. We faced the first year of sequestration, which caused furloughs, closed field offices, and delayed necessary services to Americans. On top of that, due to congressional inaction, a partial government shutdown closed federal offices for sixteen days, again delaying services and the country saw a loss of $24 billion in economic output. During this time, federal employees struggled not only professionally, but personally. Many endeavored to get their financial feet under them. The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEAA) saw in influx of emergency loan applications just to make ends meet as they saw dwindling pay checks. While the federal workforce received a slight respite through a one percent pay raise in the Bipartisan Budget Plan that passed at the end of 2013, these hardworking men and women deserve more.
"Federal managers recognize that our country still finds itself mired in economic turmoil; however, we further recognize the continued dedication of the men and women of the federal workforce who serve their fellow Americans daily, at home and abroad. We protect our nation's borders, provide care for our veterans and the elderly, ensure the safety of our food, and work alongside the country's military forces. While one percent is better than nothing, I call upon the nation's elected officials to return to the formulaic process employed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine annual salary adjustment recommendations, and recognize the federal workforce as it strives to create a more efficient and effective federal government."