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Benefits July 21, 2011
Union Launches Campaign against Federal Worker Pension Changes
July 21, 2011 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - One of the largest federal employee unions is launching a public awareness campaign to lobby against proposals targeting the pay and benefits of government workers.
Reported by Rebecca Moore
Government Executive reports that the National Treasury Employees Union announced its campaign, which follows rallies in New York, Washington and Detroit, to protest expected increases in federal employee contributions to government pensions. Other proposals would change the annuity formula for feds and require new employees to contribute more to their retirement and Social Security. The White House and lawmakers reportedly are discussing the increases as part of a debt ceiling deal.
According to the news report, NTEU President Colleen Kelley sent lawmakers a letter criticizing efforts to reduce federal pay and benefits as part of a deficit reduction package, calling them “the second major hit to federal employees,” to the first hit being the two-year pay freeze currently in effect. “Federal employees didn’t cause this crisis and the crisis won’t be solved by cuts to federal employees,” she wrote.
During the past year, lawmakers have announced several deficit reduction proposals that would affect federal pay, retirement and hiring, the news report said.