Let me shed some light for you

Reader comment on: The Federal Pay Freeze That Isn't

Submitted by Roger (United States), Dec 28, 2011 13:14

The president stated he froze the COST OF LIVING increases for federal workers for two years. If you understand how the GS system works, you get step increases every year for the first 3 years, then every two years for 6 years, then every 3 years for 9 years, totaling an 18 year duration. This helps reduce turnover by rewarding employees for staying with the government longer. The problem with the cost of living freeze is everything is going up in price ever year (inflation) yet our wages basically remain the same. If you scheduled for a step increase, this helps offset inflation a bit. But many are not scheduled for a step increase, so they are stuck at the same pay yet everything is going up in price.

Now, I'm not sure how out of touch with reality you are, but if you have been to a grocery store in the past few weeks, a bottle of mayonaisse is about $5, when just a few years ago it was about half that. Wages have not kept up with consumer products, hence all the turmoil about freezing federal pay.

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