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Washington, D.C. —The Federal-Postal Coalition, which includes the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), has once against stressed to the congressional super committee that the federal workforce already has made a $60 billion contribution to deficit reduction, and called upon that bipartisan body to reject any proposals that would further harm the livelihoods of federal employees.

In a joint letter to members of the super committee, the coalition pointed out that “despite popular opinion, federal employees are not immune to the economic woes of this country.” Just like their private sector counterparts, the letter said, “federal workers are confronting financial hardships due to unemployed spouses, rising health care costs and general living expenses. Many are responsible for supporting their families on a single paycheck.”

The coalition, which represents some 4.6 million federal and postal workers and retirees, consists of associations of federal managers, unions and other groups.

Its letter pointed out the current two-year pay freeze for federal workers, which runs through 2012, will provide $60 billion toward deficit reduction. The freeze was enacted in late 2010, as an initial step toward deficit reduction efforts, the coalition said. “The (super committee’s) deliberations should take this into account in the balancing of sacrifices and their consequences.”

In addressing recent proposals from various members and committees of Congress to the super committee, the coalition opposed many of those advanced by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), as well as those put forward by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The group also expressed its opposition to across-the-board workforce cuts without regard to agency mission.

At the same time, it applauded proposals to streamline the pharmacy benefit program under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and offered support for the recommendations to rein in the cost of federal contracting called for in letters to the super committee from Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management and the Federal Workforce, and the Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee.

The coalition also joined NTEU, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Douglas Shulman, the public-private IRS Oversight Board, leaders of Appropriations Committees in both the House and Senate and the Office of Management and Budget in calling for adequate IRS funding.

“The President’s deficit reduction plan also calls for providing the (IRS) with additional funding for new tax enforcement and compliance initiatives,” the coalition wrote. “These programs play a critical role in preserving the fairness and integrity of the U.S. tax system, and generate positive return on investment to taxpayers of roughly seven to one.”

NTEU is the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.