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Sisters and Brothers of the CPF 5 th Disrtict,
This letter has been vetted through our IAFF DVP Jim Johnson and your Service Representatives.
As we have been expecting since the November elections, the chaos with the federal government has
started. Many of the issues are having “indirect” effects, but there is one that may have a VERY DIRECT
impact on you and your fellow federal firefighters.
The “Voluntary Deferred Resignation” being offered to federal workers took everyone (including OPM)
by surprise! Basically, it states if you take this offer, you will stop going to work, and the federal
government will continue to pay your paycheck through September. Then, “poof” you have RESIGNED
from the federal government. To some this may look like a great offer, but I want to CAUTION you
about what this is, who is really offering it, and (more importantly) HOW this is being offered.
Let’s start with WHAT this really is, and what this isn’t. This is a resignation, saying you are quitting work
as a federal worker. This is NOT a retirement. If one is looking to take this offer, why doesn’t one simply
put in papers to retire? If a firefighter has minimum 20 years of continuous service as an SCE Special
Category Employee (FFs, LEs, ATCs, etc…), AND they are 50 years old he/she can simply retire instead of
resign. The same goes for a firefighter that has 25 continuous years at any age. Simple!
Now, let’s say a firefighter DOESN’T have the minimum requirements to retire, then he/she cannot
retire or receive the many benefits of a Firefighter Retirement (medical, dental, life insurance, etc).
Another thing to consider, is HOW you will get money from the government. If you resign short of what
is minimally required you will not be eligible to receive anything from the government till age 65.
Another thing to consider is this. Most regular federal worker’s retirement is calculated at the rate of
1% per year of federal service throughout their time working as a civil servant. SCEs (firefighters) get
1.7% per year for the first 20 years of service, so giving that up, will cost you a loss at the rate of 14% of
your calculated payments. The other two items will be much quicker to brief.
Who is really offering this? The Chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has started
to enact changes to fulfill the President’s Agenda of “reducing” the federal government. The DOGE
Chair happens to be Elon Musk. It looks that this was rushed out without much research. This leads to
my last thing to make you aware…
How is this being offered??? Everything the federal government does is attached to a line item in the
federal budget. We are in what’s called a Continuing Resolution (CR) through 14 March of this year.
This means the government is funded through this date. Anything after that, has NOT been resolved
through congress and signed into law by the president. OPM is offering money they have not yet
approved from 15 March to the end of September. This should be the biggest question to navigate.
“Promises”, “guarantees”, and “assurances” are to be taken with a grain of salt from the DOGE Chair
who has several lawsuits for failure to pay employees through the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB).
Let me be CLEAR. This is NOT a political letter, but an educational one for you all. The decision to take
this offer is a personal one between you and your family. Your decision to take this offer should be
made with as much information gathered as possible. I will also add the advice to seek the expertise of
a Financial Planner to further prepare you for the decision to take this offer or not.
Good luck and please contact any of your Service Representatives if you have further questions.
Charlie
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