Federal workers rage over President Obama's two-year wage freeze

Federal workers rage over President Obama's two-year wage freeze

John Marzulli, Kerry Burke and Kenneth R. Bazinet
New York Daily News
November 30th 2010

Irate federal workers in New York had a few choice words for President Obama's decision Monday to freeze their wages for the next two years.

"That's why Obama's ratings are below [ex-President George W.] Bush's, and that's hard to be unless you're Osama Bin Laden," said Rosemarie Clemmens of Manhattan.

Clemmens, who works for the Social Security Administration, said she voted for Obama but won't again. "I can't wait until I retire," the life-long government worker added.

Even the Secret Service and FBI, among other federal law enforcement agencies, are taking a hit thanks to Obama's decree.

"Federal law enforcement officers have been sacrificing for our country since the attacks on 9/11, and now we're being asked to bear the brunt of a failing economy," said Jon Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

"This is disheartening, but it won't dilute our honor for serving our country," he said, adding that a pay freeze should be a last resort, not the first.

Signaling a distinct shift toward austerity, Obama announced a two-year pay freeze for federal workers, saving up to $5 billion in two years, and $28 billion in five.

"The hard truth is getting this deficit under control is going to require some broad sacrifice, and that sacrifice must be shared by the employees of the federal government," Obama said.

Obama's lower lip was distinctly swollen after taking an elbow during a Friday basketball game, but he said doctors have cleared him to get back on the court.

These assholes have no class at all. Over 15 million out of work and a deficit that is climbing. Not to mention, they now make more than the average private sector worker. Tough shit, people.

TexasBlue wrote:These assholes have no class at all. Over 15 million out of work and a deficit that is climbing. Not to mention, they now make more than the average private sector worker. Tough shit, people.

And when you consider how you are treated like shit whenever you have to deal with a federal agency it makes it all the more galling. These people have no incentive to be efficient or effective because they don't have to earn a profit. They have no incentive to treat people in a civil manner because they have a monopoly on those services they offer. The civil servant is neither civil nor a servant.

Their pay shouldn't "frozen" (which, btw it is not really a freeze), it should be CUT! And more to the point, we should cut federal jobs across the board! Let them see how easy it is to find a real job under our current federal policies.

Was reading the Ft. Worth paper today on lunch break. In that city alone, there's 15,000 federal workers. Granted, most are probably necessary but.... 15,000!

Yeah, pay cuts, like you said. Studies have shown that in the last 5 years their pay has surpassed the private sector. I've gone round and round on this with liberals and they don't see a problem with that scenario.

TexasBlue wrote:Was reading the Ft. Worth paper today on lunch break. In that city alone, there's 15,000 federal workers. Granted, most are probably necessary but.... 15,000!

Yeah, pay cuts, like you said. Studies have shown that in the last 5 years their pay has surpassed the private sector. I've gone round and round on this with liberals and they don't see a problem with that scenario.

I would submit that MOST of those workers are NOT necessary. Remember back in February when DC was hit with a bad snow storm and all NON-ESSENTIAL federal workers were told to stay home? Want to guess how many got extended snow days? NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION FEDERAL WORKERS fell under the category of "non-essential." There were 240,000 federal employees deemed non-essential!!!

Seriously, if this doesn't make one say WTF OVER?!?! nothing will.

Federal pay freeze will affect about 15,000 workers in Tarrant County

Alex Branch
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Nov. 29, 2010

Leaders of federal employee groups in North Texas reacted with disappointment to the announcement Monday of a two-year pay freeze for all civilian U.S. government employees, nearly 15,000 of whom work in Tarrant County.

At the same time, they acknowledged the economic realities that led to the freeze, expected to save $5 billion over two years.

"I would say I think it is distasteful," said Jerry Pikulinski, president of the Arlington chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. "But I don't think any of us are really safe at this point in time based on the national and international economies. It is really just a sign of the times."

President Obama announced the freeze Monday in what White House officials described as a first of many difficult decisions that must be made to reduce the nation's mounting debt.

The president acknowledged that federal workers were being asked to make a sacrifice.

Groups pushing for less government spending applauded the freeze, noting that private-sector employees have made similar sacrifices.

A Cato Institute study this year reported that federal civilian workers had an average annual wage of $81,258 in 2009, well above the $50,464 for private-sector employees.

"For years now, many Americans have gone not only without pay raises, but with losing jobs and seeing their take-home pay reduced, while government employees have continued to see their pay increased every year," said Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. "It is important that we keep government employees at the same footing as the taxpayer. This is a prudent step."

There were 14,700 federal employees in the Fort Worth-Arlington area in October, the most recent figures available from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There have been up to 17,000 employees at several times since 2000.

Several employees on their lunch breaks outside the Fritz G. Lanham Federal Building in downtown Fort Worth said that they were aware of the freeze announcement but that they weren't allowed to speak to the news media without permission.

A few were frustrated that federal workers were singled out.

"All I'll say is I'm not sure how making things tougher financially for another group of people is going to help," said one worker, who would not give his name. "But, really, what are you going to do?"

Delanamor Love, president of the Fort Worth chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees, suggested that government officials could have looked harder for other places to cut spending before freezing salaries.

"We'll feel the impact. Obviously, we are more content with a freeze instead of losing jobs," said Love, an aircraft technician at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.

The level of resentment toward government employees has become a concern to some current and former workers. Pikulinski, a retired economist for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, said federal employees are "maligned quite frequently."

"We are supposedly lazy and unproductive and overpaid," he said. "I am concerned with the poor image that is being put out there by people who just want to justify the cuts."

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, who was in Hurst on Monday hosting a transportation forum, said he supported the freeze. In fact, he said, he would like to see more measures taken.

"I think, not only is it necessary, but I would put a hiring moratorium in place," Burgess said. "We should not fill vacancies until we get this budget under control."

More poop for the masses.

Federal workers earning double their private counterparts
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-08-10-1Afedpay10_ST_N.htm