tod evans
09-30-2013, 12:43 PM
From Drudge;
Even in shutdown, Feds get overtime, comp time, 'Sunday pay'
http://washingtonexaminer.com/even-in-shutdown-feds-get-overtime-comp-time-sunday-pay/article/2536565
A federal government shutdown will temporarily cut off pay of thousands of Uncle Sam’s workers, but for those considered “excepted employees,” there could be a nice salary bump thanks to rules allowing overtime, compensatory time and other benefits provided to those the administration feels too important to furlough.
In advance of the potential shutdown, the Office of Personnel Management distributed a 30-page “Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs” that spells out who will get what, if anything, if President Obama and House Republicans can't negotiate a break in the budget stalemate by Monday night, the end of the fiscal year.
Most workers won’t be considered excepted employees, but OPM emphasized that it’s not because their work isn’t valued. “Excepted employees include employees who are performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property or performing certain other types of excepted work,” said the guide.
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As a result, they won’t receive pay during the shutdown, though in the past Congress has approved backpay.
But for those called in to work, the guide reveals they will be eligible for extra pay. “Excepted employees who meet the conditions for overtime pay, Sunday premium pay, night pay, availability pay and other premium payments will be entitled to payment in accordance with applicable rules, subject to any relevant payment limitations,” said the guide.
Comp time is also available, said the guide.
And while current federal workers might see their pay cut, retirees won’t. “Federal retirees,” said the guide, “will still receive their scheduled annuity payments on the first business day of the month.”
UNIONS WILL DEMAND BACK PAY IF GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/30/Unions-Will-Demand-Back-Pay-if-Fed-Gov-t-Partially-Shuts-Down
If the federal government partially shuts down on Tuesday, federal worker unions are set to protest and demand back pay for government workers. Government unions may even consider lawsuits to get back pay for furloughed federal employees.
If Congress cannot agree to a short-term resolution to fund the government by Monday, parts of the federal government will shut down on Tuesday.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said he believes government employees should get back pay and, since many may be living "paycheck to paycheck," he asserted, “We as a Congress need to be more sensitive to their needs.”
Union officials estimate roughly 800,000 workers will be furloughed as "non-essential" employees in the event of a government shutdown and will demand retroactive pay because the furloughs would "add insult to injury for workers who have been living under a pay freeze for three years."
“We are trying to maintain pressure on this White House that in the event of a government shutdown, that any negotiated settlement includes an agreement that all federal employees — essential and non-essential alike — get paid when the government reopens,” Matt Biggs, legislative director for the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), told The Hill.
IFPTE is not the only union that will be aggressively demanding back pay.
AFSA, a union that represents the workers of U.S. Foreign Service, reportedly waived signs on Friday urging the government not to shut down. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) "is organizing protests that will begin on Monday outside federal agencies and run through next week" and will lobby for back pay. In addition, members of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) are also planning rallies and demanding back pay; NTEU President Colleen Kelley said back pay would be "absolutely, positively" a priority in the event of a shutdown.
Beth Moten, AFGE's legislative director, said her union was considering legal action to obtain back pay for union workers.
“Our attorneys are looking at that right now. No final decision has been made yet,” Moten said.
According to The Hill, furloughed federal workers received back pay after the government shut down twice in the 1990s, but there are no such guarantees this year.
Even in shutdown, Feds get overtime, comp time, 'Sunday pay'
http://washingtonexaminer.com/even-in-shutdown-feds-get-overtime-comp-time-sunday-pay/article/2536565
A federal government shutdown will temporarily cut off pay of thousands of Uncle Sam’s workers, but for those considered “excepted employees,” there could be a nice salary bump thanks to rules allowing overtime, compensatory time and other benefits provided to those the administration feels too important to furlough.
In advance of the potential shutdown, the Office of Personnel Management distributed a 30-page “Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs” that spells out who will get what, if anything, if President Obama and House Republicans can't negotiate a break in the budget stalemate by Monday night, the end of the fiscal year.
Most workers won’t be considered excepted employees, but OPM emphasized that it’s not because their work isn’t valued. “Excepted employees include employees who are performing emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property or performing certain other types of excepted work,” said the guide.
Sign Up for the Paul Bedard newsletter!
As a result, they won’t receive pay during the shutdown, though in the past Congress has approved backpay.
But for those called in to work, the guide reveals they will be eligible for extra pay. “Excepted employees who meet the conditions for overtime pay, Sunday premium pay, night pay, availability pay and other premium payments will be entitled to payment in accordance with applicable rules, subject to any relevant payment limitations,” said the guide.
Comp time is also available, said the guide.
And while current federal workers might see their pay cut, retirees won’t. “Federal retirees,” said the guide, “will still receive their scheduled annuity payments on the first business day of the month.”
UNIONS WILL DEMAND BACK PAY IF GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/09/30/Unions-Will-Demand-Back-Pay-if-Fed-Gov-t-Partially-Shuts-Down
If the federal government partially shuts down on Tuesday, federal worker unions are set to protest and demand back pay for government workers. Government unions may even consider lawsuits to get back pay for furloughed federal employees.
If Congress cannot agree to a short-term resolution to fund the government by Monday, parts of the federal government will shut down on Tuesday.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said he believes government employees should get back pay and, since many may be living "paycheck to paycheck," he asserted, “We as a Congress need to be more sensitive to their needs.”
Union officials estimate roughly 800,000 workers will be furloughed as "non-essential" employees in the event of a government shutdown and will demand retroactive pay because the furloughs would "add insult to injury for workers who have been living under a pay freeze for three years."
“We are trying to maintain pressure on this White House that in the event of a government shutdown, that any negotiated settlement includes an agreement that all federal employees — essential and non-essential alike — get paid when the government reopens,” Matt Biggs, legislative director for the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers (IFPTE), told The Hill.
IFPTE is not the only union that will be aggressively demanding back pay.
AFSA, a union that represents the workers of U.S. Foreign Service, reportedly waived signs on Friday urging the government not to shut down. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) "is organizing protests that will begin on Monday outside federal agencies and run through next week" and will lobby for back pay. In addition, members of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) are also planning rallies and demanding back pay; NTEU President Colleen Kelley said back pay would be "absolutely, positively" a priority in the event of a shutdown.
Beth Moten, AFGE's legislative director, said her union was considering legal action to obtain back pay for union workers.
“Our attorneys are looking at that right now. No final decision has been made yet,” Moten said.
According to The Hill, furloughed federal workers received back pay after the government shut down twice in the 1990s, but there are no such guarantees this year.