Comparative Growth in Compensation for Postal and Other Federal Employees Since 1970

FPCD-78-43: Published: Feb 1, 1979. Publicly Released: Feb 1, 1979.

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Since the Postal Service Reorganization Act of 1970, postal employees whose pay is determined through collective bargaining have achieved higher pay raises than many of their counterparts in other federal pay systems and in some parts of the private sector.

Major causes for the increase in Postal Service bargaining employee salaries have been rapid in-grade advancements and substantial increases in the pay schedules. Since the Reorganization Act, postal employees are able to advance to the maximum salary in their respective grades within 8 years, compared to 21 years before the reorganization. In contrast, it takes 18 years for federal white collar employees and 6 years for federal blue collar employees to advance as far.

Matter for Congressional Consideration

  1. Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.

    Matter: In view of the experience of the Postal Service, it is believed that when collective bargaining for wages for other Federal employee groups is proposed, Congress should: (1) recognize that collective bargaining for wages can result in higher wage increases; (2) recognize that comparability and bargaining for wages may not be compatible or practical; and (3) consider the need for, and appropriateness of budgetary controls or constraints similar to those that exist for bargaining groups in the private sector and at other levels of government.

 

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