Home > news

In the Press...

APP News Article on Smith-MacArthur Efforts for JB-MDL Workers'600 Joint Base employees to get raises'

f t #
JOINT BASE MC GUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST , Nov 30, 2016 | Jeff Sagnip ((202) 225-3765) | comments

  • 2014 APP Banner

  • A February 2015 missions briefing took place at the N.J. National Guard Headquarters on Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst. Cong. Smith is on left, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is at center, and Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen is at right.

  • Joint Base McGuire Dix-Lakehurst is the second largest employer in New Jersey. At a recent briefing, Cong. Smith is shown second from the right. The Joint Base stretches 20 miles across, and hosts over 38,000 military personnel and civilians daily.

  • A NJ National Guard Blackhawk helicopter carrying the NJ Congressional Delegation flew from Picatinny Arsenal to Earle Naval Weapons Station, the final base to be visited on Feb. 6, 2015.

  • Nine Members of the N.J. Congressional Delegation, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and military officials and staff in an auditorium at Picatinny Arsenal. Cong. Smith is second from the left.

  • Asbury Park Presss

By Erik Larsen of the Asbury Park Press -

An estimated 600 civilian employees are getting a raise.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management issued final regulations Wednesday that will adjust the wages of Joint Base staff so their pay takes into account the higher cost of living in the New York metropolitan area rather than the Philadelphia metropolitan area, according to a joint statement from U.S. Reps. Chris Smith and Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., who both advocated for the change.

Previously, the federal government had adjusted the salaries of white-collar employees at the base but had not done the same for blue-collar and other non-exempt employees who receive hourly wages instead of a fixed annual salary, the statement read.

A disparity occurred after the Joint Base was established as a single entity in 2009 from three different military installations — McGuire Air Force Base and Fort Dix in Burlington County and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst in Ocean County. Ocean County is considered part of the New York metro area while Burlington County is part of the Philadelphia metro area.

Today, the Joint Base is the second-largest single employer in New Jersey after the state government itself.  The base pumps about $6.9 billion each year into the regional economy, according to the statement.

The scheduled pay increase is expected to take effect in the first pay period of 2017, starting on Jan. 8, the statement read.

“OPM’s announcement is a big win for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and our local community," Smith said in the statement. "The elimination of this outdated, pre-BRAC policy (Base Realignment and Closure) means the men and women of the Joint Base’s workforce will finally be paid equally and fairly."

The congressman represents about half of the Joint Base. Smith is also the author of the the Joint Base Pay Parity Act, which was aimed at making such a change.

MacArthur, who represents the other half of the base, said in the statement: "Over the last two years, I have seen first-hand the importance of ensuring pay parity for wage-grade workers at the base. I have actively advocated for this proposal along with my colleague Chris Smith, and it brings me great joy to know that hard working families in South Jersey will finally earn the pay they deserve."

This article originally was published by the Asbury Park Press on Nov. 30, 20116 at:
http://www.app.com/story/news/military/2016/11/30/600-joint-base-employees-get-raises/94671208/

f t #