President's Deficit Reduction Plan Unfairly Targets Federal Employees, Again
- Details
- Published: July 09, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists, AFL-CIO (PASS), the union that represents over 11,000 employees at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including
aviation safety inspectors and systems specialists, are disappointed in the administration's decision to take aim at federal employees in its deficit reduction strategy once again.
The President's Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction calls for a 1.2 percent increase in federal employees contributions toward their retirement without an increase in benefits. The administration claims this change will generate $21 billion in savings over 10 years; however, the administration fails to recognize that this plan results in a pay cut for federal employees already working under a two-year pay freeze. Under this plan, a systems specialist at the FAA who earns $50,000 will see their pay check reduced by $600 annually.
"Federal employees have already accepted a two-year pay freeze, which will result in over $60 billion in savings for the federal government," said PASS President Tom Brantley. "We cannot understand why this administration would ask federal employees to make continued and repeated sacrifices in these difficult economic times."
At the FAA, it takes three to five years to train aviation safety inspectors and systems specialists, both of which are a highly-skilled and experienced workforces with years of military and aviation industry experience. "With targets planted squarely on federal employees' backs, the administration is severely hindering its ability to recruit, hire and train the best and brightest individuals considering a career at the FAA," said Brantley.
For more information or questions, please contact Kori Blalock Keller at (202) 293-7277 x110.
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For 36 years, PASS has represented more than 11,000 employees of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense who install, maintain, support and certify air traffic control and national defense equipment, inspect and oversee the commercial and general aviation industries, develop flight procedures and perform quality analyses of the aviation systems. For more information, visit the PASS website at www.passnational.org.