Fed Unions ask- what's the plan?

[James48843]

The Honorable Jacob J. Lew
Director
Office of Management and Budget
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20503


The Honorable Timothy F. Geithner
Secretary
Department of the Treasury
1650 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20220



Dear Director Lew and Secretary Geithner:

On behalf of the 4.6 million federal and postal workers and annuitants represented by the undersigned management associations, labor unions and professional associations, we extend our deepest appreciation for your continuing efforts to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

The prospect of Congressional inaction by August 2 over raising the debt ceiling is generating significant concern throughout the federal community over its impact on the continuity of government operations. This has been underscored by President Obama’s comment on July 11 that he “cannot guarantee" that the 27 million Social Security checks due out on August 3 will be mailed as scheduled if the debt ceiling is not raised.

As a result, federal government executives, managers and rank-and-file employees represented by our organizations seek answers to the following questions:




•If the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2, will all departments and agencies continue to remain operational, or will a government shutdown result? If so, what plans are in place to assure the continuity of government operations?
•How will the assets of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the G-Fund of the Federal Employee Retirement System be impacted, given the continued suspension of additional investments in these funds since May 16?
•Will federal employees become subject to release through furloughs, and how will their wages and benefits be affected?


Our organizations seek a meeting with appropriate Administration officials to secure answers to these and related questions as soon as possible. Thank you for your assistance in arranging this meeting.

Sincerely yours,


American Federation of Government Employees
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
American Foreign Service Association
American Postal Workers Union
Federally Employed Women
Federal Managers Association
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
National Association of Government Employees
National Association of Letter Carriers
National Association of Postal Supervisors
National Association of Postmasters of the U.S.
National Council of Social Security Management Associations
National Rural Letter Carriers Association
National Treasury Employees Union
Organization of Professional Employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Professional Aviation Safety Specialists
Professional Managers Association
Senior Executives Association

What'cha gonna do when the gov comes crashing down?

 

[James48843]

Boehner Delaying Vote on Republican Debt Plan


Doesn't have the votes to pass, plus Dems say it would be dead in the Senate anyway.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress/boehner-delaying-vote-on-republican-debt-plan-20110728


Meanwhile, Congressional Black Caucus says they will vote NO enblock on anything other than a clean debt-ceiling bill.

During a radio interview today, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the over 40 members of the CBC will be voting ‘no’ on any plan that cuts government services — including the plan put forward by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Cleaver says the caucus insists on a clean vote to raise the debt ceiling — the same kind of vote “we’ve done repeatedly since 1917.” Cleaver explained, “we can deal with the deficit questions later, but let’s not send the most powerful nation on the planet into default.”

http://thinkprogress.org/special/20...-will-only-support-a-clean-debt-ceiling-vote/

 

[James48843]

Senators seek three-year pay freeze extension, workforce cuts

By Emily Long elong@govexec.com August 4, 2011

Though federal employees escaped immediate scrutiny in the recent debt ceiling deal, several GOP lawmakers are renewing calls for sharp cuts to government jobs and pay. Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Tuesday introduced legislation (S. 1476) that would extend the current two-year pay freeze by an additional three years and restrict performance and recruitment bonuses for that same period. The bill also calls for a 15 percent cut to the size of the federal employee and contractor workforces through attrition and a 75 percent reduction in the government's travel budget. The proposal would save $600 billion over 10 years, they said.

Three more years on the pay freeze. Thanks Orrin Hatch.

And the hits just keep on coming:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=48445&dcn=todaysnews

 

[James48843]

Nobody minds an additional three years of a pay freeze, on top of the two years we're getting already? ? ?

 

[PessOptimist]

My union, which you did not mention in your letter, has grabbed the KY and is rolling over on an all ready signed contract for FY12. Management was grinning ear to ear five years ago about this contract. Think any got bonuses concerning it? The union is not providing free lubricant to paying members. They are definitely rolled over and not yet discussing future FYs. Contract says they will discuss that starting in February for the next fiscal year. Gotta love those unions. All for the proletariat working person.

 

[burrocrat]

Unions Rock !!

View attachment 14838

No wonder we got dragged down today, just had to go shake your fist at the sky like that did you?

 

[Atarrin]

Nobody minds an additional three years of a pay freeze, on top of the two years we're getting already? ? ?

Coburn has proposed a lot of things. At this point, it's hard to get too excited until any of these proposals get some momentum.

What I had been hearing is that the most likely scenario is:

15-25% reduction in force via attrition;
1-year extension of pay freeze
For existing FERS/CSRS employees: .5% increase of gross pay contribution to FERS/CSRS per year, for 3 years, once the pay freeze ends (total contribution would then be brought to ~2.3%)
For new employees: Immediate jump to ~5-6% contribution to FERS

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

No wonder we got dragged down today, just had to go shake your fist at the sky like that did you?

Nope, He is the one I cannot blame. This is of our own making.

 

[FundSurfer]

I don't thinkanything happens till the new super committee does its thing. I'll be watching who goes on that committee very carefully. Federal employees will see some impact,time will tell in what form it takes.

 

[nnuut]

The Super Committee is a farce and can't do a thing more the initial agreement, it is all part of the plan, promise the world and don't give them a thing. Now that the S&P has made the truth known I think we may get something done but knowing the Libs they will block every cut in expenditures that need to be cut to save our butts, so there you go back to ground zero---- FIRE THEM ALL!

 

[Silverbird]

The Super Commitee does not have enough time to formulate a new plan. Congress comes back post Labor day to actually...labor. Next everything will be sidetracked with the less than 30 day attempt to pass some sort of 2012 budget, which I think most likely will not happen. Meanwhile Congress will wrangle over who gets a seat at the table (I'd suggest pick a card, except the parties would both say the other fixed the deck), and at best 2 months to come up with something. Which makes you wonder if they will be in session on Turkey Day trying to deep fry a meal using a Cliff Notes recipie based on Gang of 6 or some other earlier proposal (with combustive results).