A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/1067228
Pay Raise for Federal Employees: Without passage of a government funding bill, there has been no action on a federal employee pay raise for 2019. Without Congressional action the President's alternative pay plan providing no increase will go into effect. The new Congress will have the opportunity to pass a pay raise when it is seated in January. As a reminder, President Trump's "alternative pay plan" includes a zero percent pay increase for federal employees covered by the General Schedule (GS) and other statutory pay plans in 2019. NATCA's negotiated pay articles with the FAA provide for annual increases equivalent to the GS increase effective first full pay period in January. Congress can pass legislation that includes a pay increase and, if it is signed into law, the President's zero percent increase would be overridden. The Senate already passed the FY 2019 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill that includes a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal employees for 2019. However, the House neither provided for a pay increase in its version of the FSGG bill, nor passed the Senate bill. NATCA GA staff continues to work with leadership, members, and staff in Congress to advocate for federal employee pay raises. They also take an active role in federal employee coalitions that support federal employee pay raises. PREPARING FOR THE 116 TH CONGRESS: The new Congress will convene on Jan. 3, 2019. The term "116 th Congress" applies to the session of Congress, which is comprised of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, which will last until Jan. 3, 2021. This session will coincide with the third and fourth years of President Trump's current term. There will be many new faces in Congress, and NATCA GA staff has been meeting with many of the new members. Additionally, GA staff plans to visit all of the new offices on the day the members are sworn in with introductory information on NATCA to begin building those new relationships. • Political Breakdown: Democrats control the House, and Republicans control the Senate. Below is the final tally for each chamber: o House: 235 Democrats, 200 Republicans o Senate: 53 Republicans, 47 Democrats/Independents • Committee Assignments: Committee chairs and ranking members have been selected in the House and Senate and will be ratified when the new Congress FAA BUDGET LINE FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2019 Enacted House THUD Senate THUD Operations $10.2 billion $10.4 billion $10.4 billion Facilities & Equipment $3.25 billion $3.25 billion $3.00 billion Research, Engineering & Development $188.9 billion $180 billion $191 billion