Wednesday evening, the Senate passed its version of the continuing resolution, a funding measure poised to keep the government open through the end of the fiscal year in September. Though a government shutdown appears to have been averted, the bill’s passage virtually guarantees that federal pay will remain frozen through 2013. It also maintains sequestration furloughs with a few small exceptions for food safety inspectors.
The measure has not yet passed in the House, but it is widely expected to get a vote today. According to NFFE’s sources on Capitol Hill, the House is almost certain to vote in the affirmative. If that is the case, the bill then moves to President Obama’s desk for a signature.
“Simply stated, federal employees have been abandoned by their elected leaders,” said NFFE National President William R. Dougan. “Leaders on both sides of the aisle had a golden opportunity to give federal workers the modest pay boost they have earned. Instead they got another year of frozen pay and upwards of 22 furlough days. This is completely unacceptable.”
If the House passes the bill and the President signs it, the immediate impact will simply be the status quo – flat paychecks and furloughs just around the corner. Despite all of our efforts over the years, we continue to be thrown to the wolves time and time again. Federal workers deserve better. We are never going to get better treatment until will grow bigger, stronger, and more organized. There is strength in numbers, and the way to build that power is by joining your Union or recruiting new members.
To learn more about recruiting new members or how to join your local NFFE Union, contact National Organizing Coordinators Cassie Bond (cbond@nffe.org), and Brittany Cardinal (bcardinal@nffe.org).