U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-Pennsylvania) and Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) have introduced bi-partisan legislation, the Wage Grade Employee Parity Act, along with six other Republicans and six other Democrats. The legislation would ensure that the percentage increase in rates of basic pay for Wage Grade (WG), or hourly, employees is equivalent to the percentage increase received by other federal employees in the same pay locality.
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Get Your Report Now!This year, President Obama was able to provide a 1 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for General Schedule (GS), or salaried, federal employees, however, he does not have the statutory authority to provide the same COLA to all federal workers. Beginning January 1, 2014, WG employee’s wages will stay the same or even decrease thus creating a greater disparity between the wages of WG employees and GS employees.
“The inconsistency in wages between WG and GS employees is inequitable. It hurts a group of Americans that can least afford a fourth year with no increase at all,” said Rep. Cartwright. “For this reason, I am proud to introduce this legislation which would benefit a group that has been particularly impacted by a 4-year pay freeze, the recent Defense Department furloughs, and the government shutdown.”
“We depend greatly on federal employees who work for hourly wages,” said Congressman Cole. “As of October 31st, there were more than 174,000 hourly workers in the Defense Department alone … . The Department of Veterans Affairs and Bureau of Prisons are also impacted. Due to furloughs caused first by sequestration and more recently by the government shutdown, these dedicated employees have suffered a great deal. I am pleased that this legislation recognizes the important support hourly workers provide, like salaried, and compensates them for lost pay."
“The inconsistency in wages between WG and GS employees is inequitable. It hurts a group of Americans that can least afford a fourth year with no increase at all,” said Congressman Cartwright. “For this reason, I am proud to introduce this legislation which will benefit a group that has been particularly impacted by furloughs and the government shutdown.”