Letter: NSPS 'bonus' is a sham

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Letters to the Editor:

Letter: NSPS 'bonus' is a sham

Published on January 8, 2008 - 03:51 PM

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Regarding "DOD implements pay changes in NSPS," I've been in the National Security Personnel System exactly one year now and just received my first Employee Notice of Pay Pool Decision. Here are the facts: For a valued employee who earned a three, my base salary was increased 2.54 percent. With the bonus, my total increase was 4.49 percent. What does this really mean?

In light of the military receiving a 3.5 percent pay raise this year, it means that I am making a little more now, BUT that my retirement was diminished this year alone by 1 percent. If you carry this trend out to the logical conclusion, in the next 15 years, the government could reduce my retirement by as little as 15 percent to as much as 30 percent.

The government has refused to talk about the effect of NSPS on retirement, but I hope that someday your publication has the courage to do so. On top of the smoke-and-mirrors money game that the government is playing with my retirement, this so-called bonus money was my money to begin with. It came out of funds authorized by Congress for cost-of-living increases. Can't you see the moral and ethical issue with withholding my cost-of-living increase and then giving me back that money and calling it a bonus?

NSPS has done more to anger me than any single action the government has executed.

Anonymous

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Amen! My sentiments exactly. NSPS is fraud, waste, and abuse epitomized.

Posted by Amazed on January 9, 2008 - 08:59 AM

Amen! My sentiments exactly. NSPS epitomizes fraud, waste and abuse.

Posted by Amazed on January 9, 2008 - 09:01 AM

In the private sector, where you can actually get "let go," 4.42% is not a bad raise in a year when you are not promoted. So what's your expectation and what's it based on? Do you really think you should get more of a raise than the military? Maybe you should get a real job.

Posted by Federal Enterprise Architect on January 10, 2008 - 08:19 AM

I think Federal Enterprise Architect doesn't realize the the 4.42% is not a "raise"... the actual raise portion is 2.54% and the 'rest' of the money comes as a cash pay-out bonus. So if the rest of the government gets a 3.5% COLA, you lose 1%. Additionally at our facility the pay bands have internal pay limits that are based on job function. Guess where a GS12-10 will find him(her)self??? Middle of the band I would guess! So if you think the pay band is a way to get to get your retirement base increased, you have been misled!

Posted by FedForceLifer on January 10, 2008 - 11:18 AM