NAGE Local R 3-19 expresses disappointment to President Obama’s announcement of a two-year pay freeze for civilian federal workers.
We understand the purpose of shared sacrifice. But federal employees and their families once again are being singled out. NAGE is disappointed to see civilian federal employees singled out in an effort to reduce the federal budget deficit. We understand that the budget deficit is very large, and that everyone has to do his part, but freezing civilian federal pay is the wrong way to address this problem. This action comes at a time when the federal government can ill afford to put recruitment and retention at risk. In fact, freezing or cutting pay sends the wrong signal to the best and brightest workers federal agencies will need in these difficult times.
The Office of Personnel Management reported in October that private-sector workers earn more than 24 percent more than federal employees in 2010, two percentage points higher than in 2009. The Society for Human Resource Management estimated in September that salaries in the United States would increase by an average of 2.91 percent in 2011.
Based on research by Mercer, a human resources consulting firm, from more than 1,100 mid-size and large employers across the United States, more than 98 percent of companies plan to award base pay increases in 2011. Only 2 percent of companies are planning across-the-board salary freezes next year.
In light of the growing number of critical challenges being shouldered by federal workers, the government cannot afford to make substantial reductions to the earned compensation of individuals who have dedicated their careers to public service. As expressed by NAGE National President David Holway, “NAGE has major concerns about what this will mean for federal services like caring for veterans, protecting our borders, and maintaining our military readiness. Over half the federal workforce is at or near retirement age, and NAGE fears we could reach a tipping point as a result of a pay freeze where federal employees start retiring in droves. A wave of federal employee retirements would cause a brain drain throughout the federal government. If thousands upon thousands of federal employees walk out the door in a short period of time, the American people will lose invaluable institutional knowledge that can never be replaced. This pay freeze could do irreparable harm to the functioning of the federal government.”
As Nurses on the front line of health care for the Nation’s Veterans, we serve a critical and crucial function to our Nation’s wounded warriors. As Nurses, we have seen firsthand the impact on those we serve when the resources at point of care decreases. NAGE Local R 3-19 believes the system is already stretched beyond our ability to provide safe quality care to those most so well deserving of such. As a VA Nurse most of us feel a sense of duty to serve the veterans and our country. Working for the VA is not about the money, as Nurses there is better salary paid outside of the VA. The President’s decision to freeze federal employees’ salaries has potentially far reaching consequences for the nation’s veterans. For those reason, we urge the president to reconsider this ill-advised decision.
