In the agreement passed by Congress to end the government shutdown, a detail was included which would allow the Obama administration to raise federal employees’ pay by 1% after January 1. This raise will be the first cost-of-living increase since 2010, although raises based on merit have occurred.
However, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service John Palguta says that the raise is mostly just symbolic. “A lot of what was happening with the shutdown was a fundamental questioning of the value of public service,” he said. “Symbolically this is saying: Yes, what you’re doing is important…and we’re going to put our money where our mouth is.”
Whatever the reason behind the raise, many people feel that it is long overdue. Federal workers have had to work harder than ever since budget cuts and hiring freezes have left them with more work than they have had in the past. “The promise of a modest pay raise and back pay for furloughed government employees are good first steps in recognizing the value of federal workers,” said Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
