Federal workers rallied in Washington, D.C., this week to ask Congress to raise wages and avoid a government shutdown.
More than 120,000 federal employees are based in Maryland, and the state is facing the March expiration of its latest continuing resolution.
On Tuesday, the American Federation of Government Employees held a rally at the Capitol in support of fully funding the government.
The federation is the largest federal employee union, and National President Everett Kelly said it’s time for Congress to step up.
“Not only do we want them to do the work, we want the government to fund them, right?” Kelly said. “Keep the government open. Keep the government serving the American people. This is the most fundamental role of Congress.”
In a continuing resolution passed last November, the House split government funding into two parts with separate deadlines. The current continuing resolutions expire March 1st and March 8th.
Rally attendees also expressed support for the Federal Income Rate Adjustment Act, or FAIR Act, which would raise wages for federal workers by 7.4% in 2025.
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Cheverly), who represents Prince George’s County in the House, said federal employees deserve a raise.
“The FAIR Act is going to pass, right?” Ivy said. “7.4 percent, you’re way behind. And we’re going to make sure you all get the pay you deserve.”
Federal employees earn, on average, 27 percent less than people in similar jobs in the private sector, according to calculations by the Federal Salary Council’s Advisory Committee.
Disclosure: The American Federation of Government Employees contributes to our foundation for reporting on budget policies and priorities, livable wages/working families, and social justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Utah’s total tax and property tax liability hit an all-time low over the past five years, while the state’s income tax hit an all-time high, according to a new report.
The Utah Foundation report examined changing trends in Utahns’ taxes and fees over nearly a century.
Christopher Corrado, senior analyst at the Utah Foundation and author of the report, said the state’s overall tax burden should be calculated by dividing the personal income of all residents by the amount of taxes collected.
“Utah’s tax burden of $109.92 per $1,000 of personal income means that for every $1,000 you or I earn, we pay an average of just under $110 in taxes to state or local governments.” explained Corrado.
Corrado noted that Utah’s overall tax burden is up from 2016, when it was $104.50 per $1,000 of personal income, which is the lowest tax burden in at least 60 years, according to the Utah Foundation. There is. The report considers the tax burden to be “a constant balancing act between ensuring that governments pay for services that residents need and how much governments take from people’s paychecks.”
The report provides a breakdown of state and local taxes and mandatory fees paid by Utah residents. Researchers found Utah’s tax burden was the 19th highest in the nation, slightly above the national average of $108.55 per $1,000 of personal income.
Bill Hesterman, a government affairs expert at consulting firm Holland & Hart, said the report helps show taxpayers where their money is being spent.
“$110 of every $1,000 I make goes to government services,” Hesterman said. “Are you happy with the way our parks, streets, and schools are? Or do you think they need to do better or are doing too much?”
Hesterman added that the report will provide Utahns with valuable information and knowledge when they attend town hall and school board meetings and advocate for changes.
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Some blame staffing shortages at the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery delays across the country, particularly in rural Missouri.
Some mail carriers argue that staffing shortages are hampering their ability to split overloaded routes and are at the heart of the problem affecting speedy mail delivery.
Bryce Shanklin, a rural letter carrier for the Postal Service, understands at first that the workload can be overwhelming, even with seven days a week and a low starting salary. he said. But he doesn’t understand why more people don’t join the Postal Service for more than a long-term career with great benefits.
“The perks are great. You don’t have to worry about getting fired,” Shanklin pointed out. “One perk is federal holidays like President’s Day, which most people don’t have access to. And then there are health benefits. I’ve never seen health insurance that’s better than federal insurance. there is not.”
In 2020, the Postmaster General implemented a plan called “Delivering For America” to minimize turnover by transitioning more employees into careers. Since this plan was implemented, the number of conversions has increased to his 125,000. However, the American Postal Workers Union argued that the Postal Service remains understaffed.
Adding local routes, including shipping to online retailers, can be extremely time-consuming, Shanklin said.
“Amazon trucks, DHL, UPS, FedEx, they’re all running in the cities. But do you go out into the countryside? That’s the responsibility of the post office,” Shanklin stressed. “Even if we had a postal vehicle, we would be making two, sometimes three, trips back and forth to deliver packages, and of course more at Christmas.”
But Shanklin acknowledged that once the carriers get through their routines, the job becomes satisfying.
“When I started my job around Christmas time in 2005, I thought, “There’s no way I can do this.” A few years later, I can run over a dozen routes like the back of my hand. ,” Shanklin said. “Of course, not everyone can do any job, but with a little effort, it’s very easy. It’s really easy.”
Shanklin’s local customers even have an online appreciation committee to thank him for his efforts and friendly attitude along the route. He added that if more people valued his career, it would inevitably affect his job satisfaction.
Disclosure: The American Postal Workers Union contributes to the Fund for Consumer Affairs and Living Wage/Working Families Reporting. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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Members of the American Postal Workers Union are calling for more staff and better pay to reduce turnover. The problem is particularly affecting mail delivery in rural areas.
An Office of Inspector General audit last year found that the U.S. Postal Service will lose nearly 60% of its non-career employees in 2022. APWU California President Gaare Davis said small, rural post offices in towns like Alturas and Truckee were hit hardest.
“These offices in the northeast corner of the state are understaffed,” he says. “There’s not enough housing in these areas, so people aren’t paid enough to work in those areas.”
The Postal Service did not respond to a request for comment, but Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said in a speech in November that the agency was working to reduce labor costs after losing $6.5 billion in 2023. Years before that.
Davis said many officials view DeJoy’s 10-year plan to streamline the Postal Service as misguided, as moves to centralize mail processing will only increase delays so far. .
“He is spending billions of dollars to ‘convert’ the Postal Service into a giant plant that travels across several states to receive mail,” he said. “It’s supposed to take an overnight or two days, but now it’s three to five days. That’s not a service.”
The United States Postal Service’s goal is 95% on-time delivery. But about 83% of first-class mail and 92% of marketing mail are delivered on time, according to the agency’s latest performance report. More recently, winter weather has been a factor in delays.
Disclosure: The American Postal Workers Union contributes to our fund for consumer issues, living wage/working families reporting. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.
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