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Washington, D.C.—The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today called on members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to approve an amendment to postal reform legislation which would prevent serious cuts in federal workers’ compensation payments. The committee plans a mark-up session tomorrow on the postal measure (S 1486).

In a letter to committee members, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said the amendment to be offered by Sen. John Tester (D-Mont.) would eliminate a section in the bill which would significantly undercut the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA).

“The Tester amendment corrects the controversial and harmful proposal in the bill to cut insurance benefits for workers injured on the job who are older or who have family obligations,” Kelley wrote.

She added: “These benefit cuts would impose a substantial and unfair income reduction on federal employees who simply came to work one day ready to serve their country, but tragically suffered an injury that took away their ability to ever work again.”

Moreover, the NTEU leader noted that a Government Accountability Office study in 2013 “offered further proof” that age-based cuts in FECA payments would be particularly harmful to lower wage workers and those injured early in their working lives.

For injured federal workers with dependents, FECA provides a modest additional payment “so former family breadwinners can still provide some material support” for their families, Kelley reminded senators.

NTEU has been an advocate for various improvements in FECA, but has been steadfast in its opposition to benefit cuts for workers injured in the service of their country.

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