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Dear AFGE Activist,

In a break with the longstanding tradition of pay parity, Congress has proposed a  3.4% pay raise for the military.  But President Obama has proposed only a 2% pay raise for  federal employees.  Our troops deserve 3.4%.  And so do federal employees who face the same rising cost of living.

We know that these are tough economic times.  But we're a union and pay is fundamental.  Our country and President Obama need to recognize the value of federal workers who care for our vets, support our troops, protect our communities and provide services in dozens of other agencies.

Sign the Online Petition to President Obama. Ask President Obama to Support Pay Parity

President Obama's budget for the 2010 fiscal year proposed a 2.0% pay raise for federal employees and a 2.9% pay raise for military personnel – breaking the long standing tradition of pay parity.  The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved a 2.9% pay raise for federal employees while the House Appropriations Committee would allow only a 2% civilian pay raise.  Your pay raise remains up in air while military personnel are very likely to get a 3.4% raise in 2010 as contained in the Defense Authorization Bill passed by the full House and by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

AFGE has and will continue to fight for pay parity.  While the 2.9% pay raise in the Senate Appropriations bill is better than the 2.0% pay raise proposed by the Obama Administration, AFGE is not giving up the fight to protect the longstanding tradition of pay parity.

Click here to Ask President Obama to Maintain Pay Parity

As federal employees, we keep America safe and moving forward. From caring for veterans returning from two wars to processing their pay and benefits, from guarding dangerous inmates in federal prisons to patrolling our borders, from keeping terrorists off the planes to helping senior citizens file their Social Security claims – we work hard every day to serve America. As much as we love our jobs and are proud to serve our country, our country needs to recognize the value of these services and the skills required to do them well.

After you sign the AFGE petition to President Obama, Click here to go directly to the White House comment page: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/.

Copy AFGE's message in our online petition and paste it in the "Comment" box.  Once you fill out the rest of the required information you can send a second message to President Obama.

Thank you for all that you do for working families.

In solidarity,

John Gage
National President
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO

Subject: Restore Pay Parity for Government Employees

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

I am writing to ask for your continued support for federal employees by upholding the principle of pay raise parity between civilians and military members. Our jobs may not make daily headlines, but what we do keeps America safe and moving forward. From caring for veterans returning from two wars to processing their pay and benefits, from guarding dangerous inmates in federal prisons to patrolling our borders, from keeping terrorists off the planes to helping senior citizens file their Social Security claims - we work hard every day to serve America. As much as we love our jobs and are proud to serve our country, our country needs to recognize the value of these services and the skills required to do them well.



Mr. President, our health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise outstripping our pay raise. I am asking you to support our families by giving us the same pay raise being given by Congress to military personnel, which is 3.4 percent. We know that these are tough economic times, but a fair raise serves to boost morale and offset rising health insurance premiums and other increases in the cost of living. It also helps boost the economies of communities throughout the nation. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]