January 21, 2022
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) applauds the Biden-Harris Administration for implementing pay raises to guarantee all federal employees earn at least $15 per hour. The Office of Personnel Management announced today that agencies are directed to make pay adjustments by January 30th, affecting nearly 70,000 civilian employees.
“This is a tremendous stride towards ensuring all federal workers are paid a living wage that allows for them to provide for their families,” said NFFE-IAM National President Randy Erwin. “No employee working for the federal government should be struggling to make ends meet. As these pay increases take effect in the coming days, there is no doubt that these workers will be given some much needed and well deserved relief.”
The pay adjustments will increase wages for more than 56,000 workers at the Department of Defense, as well as many employees at Veterans Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, among others. Roughly 130 wildland firefighters will have their pay increased to at least $15 an hour, a policy which NFFE has been pushing for over the past several years.
“Since our first wildland firefighter bargaining unit was formed, this union has been advocating for federal wildland firefighters to be fairly compensated for the grueling and life-risking work they do to protect our country,” continued President Randy Erwin. “Early in his presidency, President Biden promised to ensure no federal firefighter was paid less than $15 an hour. Today, the President fulfilled that promise. Not only for our wildland firefighters, but for all government workers.”
“This administration understands that a strong, apolitical federal workforce is critical to maintaining a democracy that is open to everyone. From day one, President Biden has been committed to preserving and advancing the interests of government employees. We are grateful that the President’s vision for the federal workforce is coming to fruition with momentous executive actions like those announced today.”