Dear Member
In case you didn't receive this already, I wanted to pass it along because I know that a lot of our membership has been fearing the worst and giving wild interpretations based on what they hear in the news or, even worse, on social media. Here is a summary of how the Presidents plan would actually affect us and the procedure that would have to happen to make it go into effect.
It is times like this that demonstrate whey we develop relationships constantly on Capitol Hill and why it is not sufficient to become "legislatively interested" only when something negative happens. I encourage you to get involved legislatively, even if this simply means donating to the NATCA PAC. This is a good example of how investing a few dollars into educating our Members of Congress can affect your pay and benefits for the rest of your career and retirement. You can't afford not to participate.
Richard Kennington
Northwest Mountiain Legislative Chair
"Brothers and Sisters,
Yesterday, the President transmitted an alternative pay plan to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and the President of the United States Senate, in accordance with the discretion provided in the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990. The alternative pay plan includes a zero percent general increase for 2019 and a zero percent locality pay increase. Although some media outlets are referring to this as a "pay freeze," it would only affect the January pay adjustment and would not affect any other contract-related pay increases.
It is important to note that the President's alternative pay plan will take effect only in the absence of congressional action. The Senate already passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill that includes a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal employees, effective the first full pay period in January. However, the House of Representatives did not provide for a pay increase in its Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill, 2019. Ultimately, the House and Senate will have to reconcile their bills in conference, otherwise deal with this disparity as part of a larger appropriations package, or pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) before appropriations expire at the end of September.
If no appropriations bill or CR is signed into law before Oct. 1, the government will experience an emergency shutdown. If Congress passes a bill that includes a pay increase and it is signed into law, the President's action yesterday will be overridden.
We will continue to keep you updated as this issue progresses.
In Solidarity,
Paul Rinaldi, NATCA President
Trish Gilbert, NATCA Executive Vice President"