Democrats are proposing to give federal employees an 8.7% pay rise as they struggle through the Trump administration and the coronavirus pandemic.
The proposed pay rise for the 2 million federal employees would take effect in 2024 and would come after they received President Biden’s 4.6 percent pay rise that year
“For years, federal employees have risked their health and safety working on the frontlines of this pandemic,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said in a news release in which he and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) would deny the Reinstate Federal Adjustment of Income Rates or FAIR Act.
“They have faced the Trump administration’s cruel personal attacks, unsafe work environments, wage freezes, government shutdowns, confiscation cuts, furloughs and senseless blanket hiring freezes,” Connolly said in the statement released last week.
“Nevertheless, our federal workforce does its job every day with dedication and distinction. Federal employees are our government’s greatest asset, and they deserve better,” he said.
Although the two lawmakers have introduced similar legislation in the past three sessions, Congress has never approved the FAIR Act.
This year’s legislation has 23 co-sponsors.
“Whether they’re inspecting our food, conducting medical research, or caring for our veterans, federal employees play an important role in our daily lives and deserve pay that reflects that,” said Schatz.
The FAIR Act is endorsed by the American Federal of Government Employees, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, among others.
“The 8.7 percent median increase they are proposing for 2024 will help federal employees keep up with rising costs and help agencies hire and retain the workers we need to keep the country on the road.” Keeping it going,” Tony Reardon, national president of the National Treasury, said the workers’ union in a statement.