Federal Workers Snouts Bury Deeper Into Our Pockets

[AZGrizFan]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

Cry me a river.

As soon as things get tough in the private sector, start whining about the government. So predictable.

Private sector needs to put away their crying towels and start competing. Personally, I think the troops are earning their pitiful 1.4% raise..

[89Hen]

And the difference is, states/counties/municipalities are required to balance their budgets

Our county is in the hole almost $1B. That's billion with a B. They keep rebuilding schools that are perfectly fine. We'll have the nicest public schools in the country in 3 more years.

[houndawg]

My wife works for our county government and she's having to take a 3.5% cut by way of furloughs (sp?) this year. It's nice to have her get more leave, but we just started HS tuition so it's bad timing on the financial front.

And the difference is, states/counties/municipalities are required to balance their budgets. The Fed Gov't is not....it's all taken from Obama's magic money tree.

It wasn't Obama who decidered to squander a balanced budget on two unnecessary wars.

[OSBF]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER FUCKING 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother fucking hell you un grateful fucking bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

[houndawg]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER **** 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother **** hell you un grateful **** bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

I'll bet he sang a different tune when he worked for the guvmint.

[AZGrizFan]

And the difference is, states/counties/municipalities are required to balance their budgets

Our county is in the hole almost $1B. That's billion with a B. They keep rebuilding schools that are perfectly fine. We'll have the nicest public schools in the country in 3 more years.

Bad example. Most school money doesn't come from the county budget. At least not in AZ.

[89Hen]

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER FUCKING 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother fucking hell you un grateful fucking bastard.

Interesting two statement together.

[AZGrizFan]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER FUCKING 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother fucking hell you un grateful fucking bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

I see Col Hogan continues to stand alone.

Are you a Federal employee?

[AZGrizFan]

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER **** 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother **** hell you un grateful **** bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

I'll bet he sang a different tune when he worked for the guvmint.

Interesting guess. But wrong. In fact, I lost my job and got out of the military because we had a president who understood that having more government folks around just for the sake of having them around wasn't good for the bottom line.

[89Hen]

Bad example. Most school money doesn't come from the county budget. At least not in AZ.

It comes out of our county pockets here.

[AZGrizFan]

Bad example. Most school money doesn't come from the county budget. At least not in AZ.

It comes out of our county pockets here.

interesting....I'd be pissed about that too, then.

[Col Hogan]

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER **** 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother **** hell you un grateful **** bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

Your split personality post indicates (to me) that you really do not understand the concept of PUBLIC SERVICE...

You say you didn't enter it to get rich...then go all postal over discussion to with hold a 1.4% pay raise...while almost 10% of the PUBLIC you claim to SERVE are unemployed...

Try serving without concern about your pay...it will continue, and you will continue to do just fine, if the pay raise was taken away...I'm assuming you are at least a GS-12 or higher...that means you get paid fairly well...

I'd understand your concern if you were a GS-6 in the DC or Chicago area...but be honest for a moment...will you be foreclosed on your house without the 1.4%...will you default on your car loan without that 1.4%...

I don't think so...

[BDKJMU]

Again, I DO when every single person I know has had their retirement plans stopped and their 401k matching stopped....but not the gov't? All I'm looking for is to see even the SLIGHTEST sign that the federal government understands what's going on out in the economy and doesn't blindly march along like buffalo over a cliff....or is that just too much to ask?

I understand what's going on out in the economy. Private sector is down. Public sector looks like the perfect whipping boy right now. Take your shots.

Were you taking shots when you were rolling around in your quarter million plus salary and obnoxious bonuses when your little slice of the economy was in a bubble? Did you sock away all that windfall for a rainy day while I was still plodding along with my 3% a year, now 1.4%, raises on a meager public salary?

We all make choices in life, and then we must deal with the choices we made. If we don't like them, make a different choice. If your wishes succeed and my job or Col's is eliminated, by golly we'll be out their looking for jobs like everyone else.

Most fed employees over the past decade in addition to the annual cola (usually between 2%-4% a year) were also getting a locality increase (usually 1-2%) a yr. That would be in addition to any grade or in grade step increases. Just saying most if not all years you would have been getting more than 3%.

Carry on...

[89Hen]

It comes out of our county pockets here.

interesting....I'd be pissed about that too, then.

Especially when my kids don't attend public school (I actually have no problem paying taxes for public schools, I know it's my choice to not send them there)

[BDKJMU]

And the difference is, states/counties/municipalities are required to balance their budgets. The Fed Gov't is not....it's all taken from Obama's magic money tree.

It wasn't Obama who decidered to squander a balanced budget on two unnecessary wars.

But it was Obama who buried us far deeper with a:
-continuation of the irresponsible bailouts started by Bush
-raised discretionary, non homeland security, non defense spending 24% in his 1st 2 years in office
-862 billion stimulus turd
-1 trillion health care turd

So AZ is right, it was all taken from Obama's magic $ tree.

[BDKJMU]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER **** 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother **** hell you un grateful **** bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

Could you make 40-50% in TOTAL compensation once current bennies, health care, vacation, retirement, etc are factored in? Would that mean working more hours, the same, or less to get that 40-50% more?

You might be in that percentage of govt workers (some white collar, engineers, etc) who when accounting for job field, duties, hours, and experience get paid less than their civilian counterparts. But for the majority of govt workers, thats not the case.

[93henfan]

Your post is all over the fucking place AZ, so I'll have to break it up into bits.

Interesting take. I haven't had a raise bigger than 3% in 5 years. Talk about blindness...

Wow, it'll be a long transition from a quarter million a year to a half million at that slow pace.

And again, you (and GATW, now THERE'S some company you don't want to keep ) keep focusing on the micro...I'm talking about the MACRO.

Ok, the MACRO. Individual federal government employees not in Congress or the White House have no impact on deciding our salaries. We're at their mercy, just like everyone else. I think we may be in agreement now. Policymakers are MACRO; lowly fed employee not in Congress/White house = MICRO. Fair enough.

But if you don't see that it's this entitlement mindset of the government as a whole and government employees specifically that's caused such a disconnect between the public and private sector then there's no amount of logic or explanation I can use to change your mind.

Whoa, wait. You said you were talking about the MACRO. Now you're lumping the average Joe federal employee in with the policymakers again. What's it gonna be? Are you going to pick on the policymakers or are you going to lump average Joe fed in with them and make us all the BIG BAD GOVERNMENT?

All you altruistic motherfuckers who have willingly worked for years for the government for slave wages because you were planning on applying for your "martyr" boy scout badge are a piece of work.
"Plodding along"...."meagher public salary"...boo-fucking-hoo...

OK, tit for tat. I took a swipe at your opulent salary, you took a swipe at my more reasonable one.

and this isn't about ME. And it ain't about YOU.

Ok, COOL! We're back to the MACRO again (I hope).

For all I know you're bringing DOWN that average of $123,000/government employee...

The original article said it was $123K salary plus benefits. I'm well above that. Our cadillac benefits that you find so appalling are pretty expensive. The average annual federal salary is $71,206. I'm well above that as well.

it's about the MINDSET of an out of touch government that continues blindly handing out raises and bonuses---of ANY amount---in a time where millions and millions of people are losing their jobs, losing benefits, taking pay cuts while the government is $1.5 trillion in debt (and climbing rapidly) and there's no end in sight to the spending.

There's nothing blind about it. The salary schedules are public information. They've been the same for decades. The only thing that changes is the annual raise, suggested by the President, debated by Congress, then signed off on by the President (who, btw, has tamped down the raises considerably from his predecessor). If the democratically elected President suggests zero and the democratically elected Congress agrees, then by golly, the federal employees get no raise. It's an option.

Btw, the biggest raise I ever got as a fed was 4.1% from George W. Bush in his reelection year of 2004. Oh the gall of that guy, giving us all 4.1% during two wars!

Here's a question for you AZ: Have you ever gotten a raise bigger than 4%. Did it make you feel dirty? Did you give it back?

I didn't think you did.

You wanna begrudge me my salary? Fine. I'm a big boy, I can take it...I earn what I make...and I'm sure you do too.

I joked about your salary (which I do not know, btw), but I don't begrudge it. Like I said earlier, we all make choices in life. You apparently made a very good one for you.

But when 2.5 million people ON AVERAGE make 2 X what their bretheren in the private sector make and YOU don't see a problem with that

I honestly don't. Again, we all make choices in life. Another issue for another day is that these federal salary bashing news pieces are fundamentally flawed, for reasons I've expounded on many times in the past. Federal salaries are largely composed of white-collar workers in the DC area. Then, they do not compare them to private sector white-collar jobs in the DC area, but to all jobs nationwide. Of course they're going to look high, but that inconvenient truth is never referenced in the BIG BAD GOVERNMENT articles. I'm guessing the average white collar private sector employee in the DC/Balt/Northern VA is comparable or higher than the $71K average fed salary.

because somehow YOU could go out and make more but chose NOT to, then there's a problem with that.

No problem. No problem at all. For the umpteenth time, we all make choices. We either live with them or make a different choice. I sleep well at night with my choice.

[BDKJMU]

Federal salaries are largely composed of white-collar workers in the DC area. Then, they do not compare them to private sector white-collar jobs in the DC area, but to all jobs nationwide. Of course they're going to look high, but that inconvenient truth is never referenced in the BIG BAD GOVERNMENT articles. I'm guessing the average white collar private sector employee in the DC/Balt/Northern VA is comparable or higher than the $71K average fed salary.

Wrong! The majority of fed civilian workers AREN'T located in the DC area.

"About 85 percent of Federal employees work outside the Washington, DC metropolitan area."

http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

White collar, DC govt jobs skews the avg some, but not that much.

[CitadelGrad]

And one more thing, 93: As I said earlier, ALL I'm looking for is a sign...some small indication that our government actually GETS it. But when the government workforce continues to GROW, when salaries continue to GROW, when benefits and bonus continue to be paid, in a time where EVERY OTHER ELEMENT OF THE ECONOMY IS SHRINKING, then THAT'S when I have a problem with government and it's mindset because it's obvious that they do NOT get it....and based on comments from most of the government workers here (Col Hogan being the notable exception), I'd say it's pretty obvious that YOU ALL don't get it either.

And you don't get the concept of a public servant. I work everyday for about 40-50% of what I could get in the private sector for folks with a skill set similar to mine. And I do so to SERVE even arrogant pompas ass clowns like you.

And I do so because of the good feeling I get from making a difference, from making the world a better place to live one project at a time. I don't expect to get rich, I didn't sign up for this to get rich. I signed up to SERVE.

When I'm already underpaid for what I do by a factor of at least 50%, and you want to rail on me for getting LESS THAN A MOTHER FUCKING 2% RAISE, you can just go straight to mother fucking hell you un grateful fucking bastard. Truth be told, for many employees the cost of our share of health insurance went up by more than the raise, so the reality is that a vast majority of lower paid public servants will see a net decrease in compensation.

That's quite a tantrum. Don't think I'm ungrateful. That's the best laugh I've had in a while and I'm very grateful for it.

[93henfan]

Most fed employees over the past decade in addition to the annual cola (usually between 2%-4% a year) were also getting a locality increase (usually 1-2%) a yr. That would be in addition to any grade or in grade step increases. Just saying most if not all years you would have been getting more than 3%.

Carry on...

You're a bit off of the facts. Let me help you.

Federal employees do not get COLA (cost of living allowance). COLA is the term used for the annual adjustment to federal retirees' retirement payments. The 2010 COLA adjustment for federal retirees was... wait for it.... zero. So, during a period of roughly 3%/year inflation, federal retirees got no increase. I guess that makes the anti-government folks happy to know that old people that spent a life in government service (like my mother) can only buy 97% of what they could a year ago. Victory! Fuck the old people, right? They're gonna die soon anyway.

Now, back to the annual federal raise for employees. Since we get no COLA, you can scratch off the 2%-4% a year you thought we got for that, because you were wrong. For 2010, federal employees were given a 1.5% annual raise and 0.5% locality raise. The locality raise is distributed among various localities, so for instance, people in San Francisco (the highest locality) got a bit more than 0.5%, and people in whatever the least expensive locale got less than 0.5%, so the range of total raises was something like 1.6% to 2.5% depending on where you live.

[93henfan]

"About 85 percent of Federal employees work outside the Washington, DC metropolitan area."

http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs041.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mea culpa. I think what my brain meant to say was that there are more federal employees in DC (by far) than any other region.

[89Hen]

Most fed employees over the past decade in addition to the annual cola (usually between 2%-4% a year) were also getting a locality increase (usually 1-2%) a yr. That would be in addition to any grade or in grade step increases. Just saying most if not all years you would have been getting more than 3%.

Carry on...

You're a bit off of the facts. Let me help you.

Federal employees do not get COLA (cost of living allowance). COLA is the term used for the annual adjustment to federal retirees' retirement payments....

Now, back to the annual federal raise for employees. Since we get no COLA, you can scratch off the 2%-4% a year you thought we got for that, because you were wrong. For 2010, federal employees were given a 1.5% annual raise and 0.5% locality raise.

Um, you're being a little bit persnickity here 93. COLA and cost of living increase are basically the same thing in general conversation. You're really splitting hairs there. As for 2010 with only a 1.5% increase, it is the anomoly. 2009 was 2.9 with a 1.0 locality. That's the norm and has been for many years. As I said before, my wife works for the county gov and she got a 0.0 increase this year (actually a 3.5% loss thanks to furloughs).

[93henfan]

COLA and cost of living increase are basically the same thing in general conversation.

I'm in 100% agreement with you. Federal employees get neither.

[93henfan]

2009 was 2.9 with a 1.0 locality.

Absolutely right. Good research!

That's the norm and has been for many years.

Uh, whoops. Absolutely wrong. Federal raises have varied greatly from year to year, based mostly on the whim of the President and Congress. If you don't think the USA Today article on federal salaries hasn't had an impact on Obama's and Congress' decision making in setting our annual raise and locality increase, you're kidding yourself. 3.9% in 2009, 2.0% in 2010, and 1.4% in 2011 is a trend, no? A trend the fed-haters can really rally behind! Woo hoo!!!

You guys should all call your Congressman and see if you can't get our 1.4% completely squashed. It's not too late. Imagine how much you could laugh at me then!

[89Hen]

Uh, whoops. Absolutely wrong. Federal raises have varied greatly from year to year, based mostly on the whim of the President and Congress. If you don't think the USA Today article on federal salaries hasn't had an impact on Obama's and Congress' decision making in setting our annual raise and locality increase, you're kidding yourself. 3.9% in 2009, 2.0% in 2010, and 1.4% in 2011 is a trend, no? A trend the fed-haters can really rally behind! Woo hoo!!!

You guys should all call your Congressman and see if you can't get our 1.4% completely squashed. Imagine how much you could laugh at me then!

A trend? I should have expected that from a GW kool-aid drinker. 1.4 isn't in the books yet, but even if it is, it will be back up in the next couple years. You're ignoring the fact that many workers are seeing no increase (or even decreases).