Largest federal employee union says federal workers have sacrificed enough

WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Government Employees is calling on lawmakers to reject any proposal to reduce take-home pay for federal workers as part of a budget compromise deal.

Members of the Budget Conference Committee reportedly are considering increasing federal employee retirement contributions, which would effectively lower their pay. Details of the budget plan can be found on AFGE's Budget War Room web page.

Federal employees have had their pay frozen for three consecutive years and lost a week of pay this summer due to the sequestration furloughs, while new federal employees already are required to pay higher pension contributions.

"Going after federal employee wages yet again is insulting, demeaning and downright criminal," AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. said. "It is disgraceful for elected officials to think that they can raid a fully funded retirement system to pay down a deficit that federal employees did not create."

Instead of cutting wages for hard-working civil servants, Congress should raise taxes on the wealthiest 1% of Americans and close tax loopholes that allow one out of four U.S. corporations to pay nothing in federal income taxes.

"Federal employees have done more than anyone else to reduce the deficit. The well is dry. Members of Congress need to take their shovels and dig elsewhere," Cox said.

Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley sits on the committee. There are 17,400 federal employees in Iowa, all of whom would be harmed by a reduction in their wages.

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.