Why are U.S. Postal Service employees exempt from the pay freeze?
Federal News Radio Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says, “Short answer is that since the 1970s the highly-unionized postal workers have bargained separately over wages and some working conditions. The USPS is not a high-wage federal operation and it’s been having money problems for years. The contract between the USPS and the American Postal Workers Union expired Dec. 1, 2010. The Postal Service is seeking concessions. So, while postal workers are ‘exempt’ from the freeze, they aren’t exactly basking in sunshine either.” Q: Will pay increases negotiated by the National Treasury Employees Union still be awarded if the pay freeze is passed? A: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley tells Federal News Radio, “The answer to that is unclear. NTEU has not yet seen the pay freeze legislation.” NTEU plans to update Federal News Radio as soon as more information is available. Q: What are the locality pay rates for Hawaii and Alaska in 2011 and 2012? A: The locality pay rate for federal employe
