FERS Sick-Leave Credit Removed from Senate Bill

The campaign to win sick-leave credit for workers who retire under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) suffered a blow July 23, when an amendment granting the benefit was withdrawn from the 2010 Defense Authorization bill.

The amendment was withdrawn at the insistence of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who threatened to filibuster until the amendment removed. “Until this amendment is withdrawn, I will stay here, or I will have a colleague stay here, and we will talk about how this country is out of control in its spending,” he said.

“We’ve institutionalized sick leave,” Sen. Coburn said. “We’ve made it an entitlement.”

Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI), the main sponsor of the amendment, defended the provision, but agreed to withdraw it after several hours of debate. “This amendment will ensure that all federal employees are treated the same when it comes to retirement,” he said.

The amendment will save money by reducing the number of days lost from work, the senator said, noting that “OPM estimates that $68 million is wasted per year because of the different leave policies in effect.”

Sen. Akaka vowed to fight for the provisions in “conference,” when members of the House and Senate members meet to resolve discrepancies between differing versions of the legislation. The Defense bill — including the FERS benefit — was passed by the House of Representatives on June 25, by a vote of 389-22.

“We are disappointed by this development,” said APWU Legislative and Political Director Myke Reid, “but we are determined to find a way to win passage of this benefit.

“It is a matter of basic fairness,” he said, noting that employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) already enjoy the benefit.