Pay Vote Coming Up

Congress returns to work next week with the first order of business being to finish a budget bill left over from its 2003 session that is needed to continue funding numerous agencies through the current fiscal year. The measure (HR-2673) specifies a 4.1 percent average general schedule raise for calendar year 2004, which would override the 2 percent raise that took effect by default because no figure was legislated last year. Assuming the higher amount is approved-the White House favors leaving the 2 percent raise in place but has not threatened to veto the bill over the 4.1 percent amount-the increase would be retroactive to when the 2 percent raise kicked in at the first full pay period of this year, which in most agencies was January 11. The measure also would change the way pay caps for blue collar employees are set, to give those wage grade employees linked to GS pay by locality rather than according to the GS average figure. Because of disagreements on other issues, though, it is uncertain whether the measure will pass in its present form; further work, meaning further delays, may be ahead.