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Washington, D.C.—The head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today strongly endorsed a Senate measure introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), which would provide federal employees with a 3.3 percent pay raise in 2015.

The Schatz-Cardin bill matches legislation pending in the House—the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Compensation Act—which was introduced by Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), James Moran (D-Va.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.)

“After several years of pay freezes, unpaid furloughs and government shutdowns, it is time for federal employee pay to get back on track,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. “We appreciate Senator Schatz and Senator Cardin introducing this bill to provide a fair pay raise for federal employees in 2015, and will work to garner support for it.”

The administration has proposed a 1 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees next year.

President Kelley noted NTEU’s call for a 3.3 percent pay increase at its legislative conference earlier this year, based on the Employment Cost Index and the formula for federal pay raises outlined in federal law. Private sector pay has increased, with federal employees falling even further behind.

“If the federal government is going to be competitive with the private sector in efforts to recruit and retain the high-quality employees necessary to serve the public, fair pay increases are a necessity,” she said.

As she has done previously, the NTEU leader emphasized that the federal workforce has already contributed $138 billion toward deficit reduction through the three-year pay freeze and increased contributions toward their pensions—a sacrifice far greater than any other group has even been asked to make. The freeze ended with a 1 percent pay raise in 2014.

“Severely-squeezed agency budgets as a result of sequestration are making it increasingly difficult for federal employees to do their jobs,” Kelley said. “Even so, and despite the continuing attacks on their pay and their contributions to America, they continue to do their jobs with skill and dedication. Clearly, a fair pay increase is in order.”

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