NOTICE: Do not call your Congressional representatives over a government phone or on official time. Please do so on your own time and using your own phone.
Brothers and Sisters,
Yesterday, the White House announced its intent to freeze the pay of all civilian federal employees for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. If adopted by Congress, this proposal would result in 0% pay adjustments for federal workers for the next two years.
Though this proposal was labeled as a pay freeze, it is in reality a pay cut. When you take into consideration rising health care costs, falling home values, and inflation, an across-the-board pay freeze will decrease the buying power of your paycheck over the next two years, making it harder for federal workers and their families to make ends meet. This is simply unacceptable.
Though we have done our best to communicate this to the White House, the first shoe has already fallen. Our task now is to pick up our phones, call our representatives in Congress, and let them know how we feel about this proposal. Federal employees are struggling in this economy just like every other American, and you deserve to have your voices heard.
We understand that sacrifices will have to be made in order to reduce our nation’s growing budget deficit, but we believe doing so at the expense of dedicated civil service employees is a misguided approach. Deficit-reduction efforts should not be focused solely on the federal workforce. Brothers and Sisters, we cannot just sit back and wait for the other shoe to drop.
Below is the contact information for the U.S. Capitol Switchboard, where you can be directed to the offices of your House and Senate Representatives. I urge you to call right away, so that members of Congress know we are serious about defeating this flawed proposal.
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121
In Solidarity,
William R. Dougan
National President