AFSCME members strongly support a bill reintroduced in Congress today that would provide employees of the federal government a much-needed 7.4% pay raise in 2025.
The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act was introduced by Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly and Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz. The lawmakers, both Democrats, have introduced versions of the bill in previous sessions.
“Whether they’re responding to natural disasters, keeping the food supply safe, or helping our working families receive the benefits they need to survive, federal employees keep our communities strong,” AFSCME President Lee Saunders said. “Their pay should reflect the essential nature of their work, and that is why AFSCME strongly endorses the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act.”
Saunders also said the pay increase “will help retain more quality federal employees, while allowing agencies to recruit more passionate individuals to public service.”
AFSCME members are pushing for higher public service staffing at all levels of government. Our union’s Staff the Front Lines initiative is designed to boost state and local investments in our essential workers and recruit qualified and passionate professionals to work in public service.
Although the Biden administration has provided federal employees raises of 4.6% and 5.2% in 2023 and 2024, respectively, such increases have failed to keep pace with rising labor and living costs, according to a press release from Connolly’s office. The release noted that in 2023 federal employees on average earned 27.54% less than their counterparts in the private sector.
Not only did federal workers diligently serve the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, “they were subjected to the Trump administration’s cruel personal attacks, unsafe work environments, pay freezes, government shutdowns, sequestration cuts, furloughs, and mindless across-the-board hiring freezes,” Connolly said. “Still, they come to work each day ready to serve with dedication and distinction. Federal employees are our government’s single greatest asset.”
Schatz said federal workers “play an important role in our everyday lives and deserve pay which reflects that. After years of pay freezes, our bill gives these dedicated public servants a much-deserved raise.”
The FAIR Act is supported by numerous worker organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), to name a few.