Federal Workers: Leave Us Out of Deficit Deal

[Pony Boy]

Federal Workers to Congress: Leave Us Out of Deficit Deal


The Federal-Postal Coalition -- a group representing more than two dozen federal employee unions -- pleaded with Congress on Monday to spare their members in any deal related to the "fiscal cliff."

Federal workers, the coalition wrote in a letter, have contributed more than their fair share toward reducing the debt and are the only group that has been targeted so heavily.

“Federal and postal employees and their families are hardworking, middle-class Americans who are struggling during these tough times just like other Americans,” the group wrote. “No other group has been asked to financially contribute the way they have, and it is time our nation’s leaders found other ways to reduce the deficit than continually taking from those who have dedicated their lives to public service.”

Top Democratic lawmakers on committees related to the federal workforce told Government Executive last week that they would like to leave federal-employee benefits out of any potential debt deal. After President Obama’s reelection, top federal unions said they were confident their members would not be targeted in such a deal and a pay raise would be instituted.

http://nationaljournal.com/congress-...-deal-20121120

[DenverBrit]

The Billionaires, bankers and Wall St made a similar case:

"Just give us tax breaks and deregulation, and stop asking us to contribute like the little people. We're 'exceptional, we bought you!!"

[Pony Boy]

All Americans need to tighten their belts and pay their fair share in taxes ....... oh except those hard working middle-class Federal employees. I'm going to stop by the post office tomorrow and pat those guys on the back for only losing 14 billion dollars last year. They all deserve a raise ......

[pricejj]

Unfortunately, he U.S. simply can't raise taxes enough to pay for such a high rate of federal spending.

There has been no proposal offered that would generate anywhere close to 24% GDP in federal revenues.

[SoCalBronco]

It's not so much benefits, but the federal workforce at large in terms of numbers. They can make some cuts through simple attrition, like hiring 2 for every 3 that leave or what have you.

[pricejj]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

It's not so much benefits, but the federal workforce at large in terms of numbers. They can make some cuts through simple attrition, like hiring 2 for every 3 that leave or what have you.

Exactly.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

It's not so much benefits, but the federal workforce at large in terms of numbers. They can make some cuts through simple attrition, like hiring 2 for every 3 that leave or what have you.

Hell firing 3 and hiring one would step up productivity and give someone that wants to work for a living a decent job.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

It's not so much benefits, but the federal workforce at large in terms of numbers. They can make some cuts through simple attrition, like hiring 2 for every 3 that leave or what have you.

As someone who works in this capacity, I would say that there are too many federal workers and we could be more effective as a unit by hiring better workers and getting rid of the turds. There is a lot of overlap and waste that goes on here and it is frustrating to see. I have witnessed it every day for the past seven months and my dad for well over 35 years, when he was an electrical engineer with the DoE, which prompted him to retire early. Once you get hired on at this level, it is almost impossible to get sh*t-canned, no matter how poor of a worker you are.

Not to mention contracted workers as well, where the government is paying an enormous overhead to companies who contract certain people out (who merely fill out paper work and don't do anything of true substance, and outside a phone call are not a part of any of the daily operations that go on with any contracted position), but offer good benefits, but less wages.

Tomorrow is a federal holiday, so obviously we get that day paid off. However, they are letting us out hours early today (field offices everywhere are going to be closing up shop ~ 3 hourse early) and we are still getting paid for it. The office I work in easily has 100 federal employees. I'd say everyone here makes pretty good dough. Even if we averaged it to 15 bucks an hour per person (very low estimate, probably several dollars higher), times 100 people times 3 hours of getting paid to leave early and you are hitting near 5 grand of wasted money for hours not worked in just one office. There are thousands of them across the country.

Tell me -- why should I (or anyone here) get paid for hours I'm actually not working a day before a holiday? Pretty nuts. I asked if I could stay my full shift to earn the money and I was told since my supervisors are leaving early, I had to leave early too. Hogwash. This isn't the first time it happened either, I believe the same applied around the 4th of July as well.

All options should be put on the table, even including benefits.

[Pony Boy]

There is already a huge division between the private sector and federal employees and any compromise resolving the fiscal cliff that excludes federal union workers will only widen the gap and deepen the animosity between the two.

[nyuk nyuk]

- those spoiled, overpaid brats should be hit first.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

There is already a huge division between the private sector and federal employees and any compromise resolving the fiscal cliff that excludes federal union workers will only widen the gap and deepen the animosity between the two.

And what division is that? $? Private sector employees with similar roles (lets just say engineers) make way more money than their government counterparts. The same goes for most all jobs.

[Pony Boy]

Originally Posted by Requiem

And what division is that? $? Private sector employees with similar roles (lets just say engineers) make way more money than their government counterparts. The same goes for most all jobs.

Your missing the point, the division is private sector employees hate and have zero respect for federal employees.

Let's use engineers as an example private sector engineers must create something on a daily basis that has a dollar value attached so they can received a paycheck at the end of the work week. A government engineer can be non-productive and still receive a paycheck as long as there is money in the federal budget. He can also be non-productive for years and never be replaced. If they don't spend the money set aside to pay him they will lose it, and that will never happen in a government office.

[W*GS]

Originally Posted by nyuk nyuk

- those spoiled, overpaid brats should be hit first.

Let's start with "those spoiled, overpaid brats" in the military...

Right?

[Pony Boy]

Originally Posted by W*GS

Let's start with "those spoiled, overpaid brats" in the military...

Right?

Wrong . ..... the thread is about the Federal-Postal Coalition, a group representing more than two dozen federal employee unions, not the military.

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

It's not so much benefits, but the federal workforce at large in terms of numbers. They can make some cuts through simple attrition, like hiring 2 for every 3 that leave or what have you.

Yeah, that's it pretty much. Have to cut the Federal payroll as best they can and streamline. Dang hard to do, though.

Congress should cut their own bennies too if they want to put their money where their mouth is.

[orinjkrush]

dont forget govt work is a social program. people are hired who should not be because of quotas. and that keeps crime down overall. and its cheaper than prison.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by W*GS

Let's start with "those spoiled, overpaid brats" in the military...

Right?

Typical ****ing liberal speak.

Crapping on the ones that keep them safe.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[houghtam]

Originally Posted by lonestar

Typical ****ing liberal speak.

Crapping on the ones that keep them safe.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

"Crapping on the ones that keep them safe"

You mean like neutering collective bargaining for police officers and firefighters? IMO those guys keep me safer than the guys in camouflage do...you're more likely to get robbed or burned to death than you are killed by a terrorist or a foreigner.

[Pony Boy]

Originally Posted by houghtam

"Crapping on the ones that keep them safe"

You mean like neutering collective bargaining for police officers and firefighters? IMO those guys keep me safer than the guys in camouflage do...you're more likely to get robbed or burned to death than you are killed by a terrorist or a foreigner.

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

[houghtam]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Great.

You can quote movies.

Now lets see if you can complete a rational thought as relates to politics.

Still waiting...

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by houghtam

"Crapping on the ones that keep them safe"

You mean like neutering collective bargaining for police officers and firefighters? IMO those guys keep me safer than the guys in camouflage do...you're more likely to get robbed or burned to death than you are killed by a terrorist or a foreigner.

This bill has nothing to do with either the military, or first responders.. it was you a bleeding heart liberal that brought them into the conversation..

but that is the way of life of the far left when getting your !@#$%^&* kicked change the subject..

If you do not think that the military is keeping you safe then I really feel sorry for your thought process..

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by Pony Boy

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I've ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response was there anything that could even be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

I was thinking the same thing when I read it..

[Cito Pelon]

Originally Posted by lonestar

This bill has nothing to do with either the military, or first responders.. it was you a bleeding heart liberal that brought them into the conversation..

but that is the way of life of the far left when getting your !@#$%^&* kicked change the subject..

If you do not think that the military is keeping you safe then I really feel sorry for your thought process..

You should probably relax instead of being a jackass reactionary all the time.