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Washington, D.C. — The leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees today offered support for potential legislation that would treat more fairly unused sick leave for workers retiring under the newer Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

Under present law, FERS retirees—unlike federal workers who are covered under the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)—are unable to have their sick leave credited in the calculation of their pensions.

In a letter to Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) and Rep. James Moran (D-Va.), who have taken the lead on this issue, President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) questioned “the inequitable treatment of this unused sick leave for FERS employees who often work side-by-side with their CSRS colleagues.”

Both groups, she said, “work diligently as dedicated public servants in agencies throughout the country, and both groups deserve to have their sick leave counted” for pension purposes.

President Kelley said NTEU “stands ready to work with” the two congressmen on bipartisan legislation to ensure that future FERS retirees receive credit or compensation for their unused sick leave.

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