News Articles
ACTION ALERT: May 16th Tell House to Vote NO on Amendment 38 to Ban Official Time
Once again, politicians are trying to beat up on federal employees and their unions by eliminating official time for union representatives. This time is used to represent employees in grievance proceedings, unfair labor practices, and discrimination investigations. Without it, many will suffer. We urge all federal workers to call Congress (on your own time, using your own phone) and tell them to VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 38 to the National Defense Authorization Act.
News Item · National Federation of Federal Employees · May 16, 2012
NFFE Position Papers for 2012 Legislative Conference Now Available!
As you know, the 2012 IAM Legislative Conference is just around the corner. Next week, hundreds of NFFE-IAM members from across the country will come to Washington, D.C. and talk federal worker issues with their members of Congress. NFFE’s Legislative Department has assembled these position papers for members to bring with them to Capitol Hill. Give them a look:
News Item · National Federation of Federal Employees · May 11, 2012
Five Percent Increase in Employee Pension Contributions Passes House
Thursday, a bill containing a five percent increase in federal worker pension contributions passed the House of Representatives, bringing with it considerable risk for already cash-strapped federal families. Introduced by Republican Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act seeks to increase current federal workers’ retirement contributions for FERS employees from 0.8% to 5.8%, and from 7% to 12% for those enrolled in CSRS. In short, if this bill becomes law, it will effectively cut your take-home pay by 5%, without receiving a dime in return.
News Item · National Federation of Federal Employees · May 11, 2012
Press Releases
NFFE to Congress: Don't Sell Out New Federal Hires on Retirement Benefits
"NFFE is adamantly opposed to placing any additional costs on federal employees, who have already sacrificed billions to address our nation’s budget deficit. Under the current two-year pay freeze, federal employees and their families are making the hard choices they need to to help their country heal from the great recession. They have endured the freeze and done their jobs without complaint, because they believed that their sacrifice could make a difference. Today, we are not so sure that those on Capitol Hill understand the magnitude of that sacrifice. Now Congress is coming after the next generation of federal employees by asking them to pay a permanent price to solve a temporary problem."
Press Release · Feb 16, 2012
Dougan Urges Congress Not to Attach Federal Retirement Cuts, Pay Freeze, to ‘Doc Fix’ and Unemployment Insurance Extension
“Reports suggesting that members of both parties are looking to increase federal pension contributions or extend the pay freeze as a ‘pay-for’ to fund extended unemployment benefits and the ‘doc fix’ are deeply disturbing. Though we fully support extending much-needed unemployment benefits for victims of the great recession, we cannot allow it to be done on the backs of other middle class federal workers who are struggling to get by just like everyone else. Instead Congress should ask the wealthiest Americans, who continue to thrive during the economic downturn, to pitch in their fair share. There is something seriously wrong in our country when Congress doesn’t blink an eye at dipping into the pockets of middle class VA nurses and border patrol agents, but threatens to shut down the government when asked to raise taxes for millionaires and billionaires."
Press Release · Feb 15, 2012
National President Dougan Blasts Federal Retirement Cuts in FY 2013 Budget Proposal
“Though we applaud the President for proposing an end to the two-year federal pay freeze, we strongly oppose all budget provisions undermining federal retirement security. The first proposal, which requires a 1.2% increase in the amount federal workers contribute to their pensions over three years, will have a serious impact on the retirement security federal employees were promised. Asking FERS employees to pay two and a half times more for their pensions in this strained economic environment could mean the difference between keeping a roof over their heads and going into foreclosure. The bill also calls for an end to the FERS annuity supplement for new hires, which provides a critical bridge between federal workers’ retirement date and the day they become eligible for social security."
Press Release · Feb 13, 2012