"Insufficient" Pay Increase Proposed for Federal Workers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Federal workers have already contributed more than enough. That was AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman’s response Friday to the 0.5 percent pay increase for civilian federal employees proposed by the White House as part of its 2013 budget proposal. It would be the first increase for federal workers since before a two-year freeze began in late 2010 and Goldman said that “While I am glad that the President is not recommending a continuation of the pay freeze in 2013, the amount of his proposed increase is insufficient considering the large amount of money that federal workers have already contributed to deficit reduction. The wealthiest 1% of the population, as well as Wall Street, large banks and corporations, should be required to pay their fair share of taxes instead of giving paltry increases to federal workers.” John Gage, AFGE President, shared Goldman’s sentiment, issuing a press release stating “this increase is well below the rate of inflation of 3.6%, and will be wiped out by higher costs for health care, groceries and other essential needs.”