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Legislation & Politics | ||
AFSCME's Position – Protecting Federal EmployeesProtecting Federal Employees Background Federal employees have been under attack from the Bush Administration since the President took office. Now the Administration is advocating a new federal civil service personnel system based on reforms that are being imposed on the federal Department of Homeland Security. The proposal would scrap the General Schedule pay system by 2010 and replace it with a new pay-for-performance system. Employees at the Defense and Homeland Security departments have already been stripped of many of their Civil Service protections against patronage and cronyism and have lost some collective bargaining rights. The new grievance and arbitration systems put in place heavily tilt toward management. AFSCME is making the case opposing these harmful changes in the Civil Service and is opposed to efforts that would strip employees of basic union rights and subject them to favoritism. Summary of Other Legislation Federal Whistleblower Tax Relief Legislation was introduced that would exclude from gross income amounts received as damages and attorneys fees and costs under the federal whistleblower protection laws. The bill also allows income averaging for amounts received as lost income. This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow whistleblower awards, other than punitive damages, to be tax-free. AFSCME supports the Federal Whistleblower Protection Tax Act of 2005 (H.R. 1985) which was introduced by Reps. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Tim Holden (D-PA) and Kay Granger (R-TX). Restoration of Federal Pension Credits Legislation that would allow former government workers to recoup their pension credits when returning to federal employment has been introduced in Congress. Under the Federal Employees Retirement System, employees who leave the government can get a refund of the retirement contributions which erases their pension credits. Currently, if they rejoin the government, they are not allowed to restore their pension by paying back their refunds. AFSCME supports the FERS Redeposit Act (H.R. 1739), introduced by Rep. James Moran (D-VA) that would allow these employees to repay their cashed out annuity and pick up pensions at the same accrual rates as if they had never left. Retiree Premium Conversion Legislation to allow civilian and military retirees to pay their Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE supplemental premiums with pre-tax dollars like their fellow active employees are permitted to do is pending in Congress. Since October 2000, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has allowed active federal employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay these premiums. Federal and military retirees should be treated the same as active workers. AFSCME supports the Federal and Military Retiree Premium Conversion Act (S. 484) that was introduced by Sen. John Warner (R-VA) and the companion bill (H.R. 994) introduced by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) that would allow federal and military retirees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for their health insurance premiums. Federal Employee Health Benefits for Reservists The Health Care Relief for Military Families Act would make federal executive agencies responsible for paying an employee’s premium for health care coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan (FEHBP) for a member of a reserve component of the armed forces called to active duty for a period of more than 30 days. AFSCME supports the Health Care Relief for Military Families Act that was introduced by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) on July 11, 2005 and referred to the House Committee on Government Reform so that those who have been called to make personal sacrifices for our nation’s security do not have to bear even more financial hardships. Similar legislation, the Reservist Pay Security Act of 2005 (S. 989), was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL), on May 11, 2005. Increased Investment Options for Federal Employees The Federal Employees Responsible Investment Act would provide for the establishment of a Corporate Responsibility Stock Index Fund as an investment option under the federal employees retirement system, the Thrift Saving Plan. This bill directs the Thrift Investment Board to select an index which is a commonly recognized, passively managed index comprised of domestic stocks based on criteria which may include corporate governance, environmental practices, workplace relations and benefits, product safety and impact and human rights. AFSCME supports the Federal Employees Responsible Investment Act (H.R. 1283) that was introduced by Rep. James Langevin (D-RI) on May 5, 2005 so that federal employees will have investment choices that provide a morally responsible investment strategy. What you can do Call your Senators and Representative and tell them that you strongly support maintaining Civil Service protections for federal workers and let them know your views on various other issues discussed above that affect public workers. Department of Legislation |
Raymond Summers
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