{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-introduces-legislation-to-address-disparate-pay-between-wage", "Cartwright Introduces Legislation to Address Disparate Pay between Wage Grade and Grade Scale Employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the bi-partisan \"Wage Grade Employee Parity Act\" along with U.S. Representative Tom Cole (OK-4) as well as six other Republicans and six other Democrats.\u00a0 The legislation would ensure that the percentage increase in rates of basic pay for Wage Grade (WG), or hourly, employees is equivalent to the percentage increase received by other federal employees in the same pay locality. Specifically, the legislation would provide 1,809 WG employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot a 1% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).\nThis year, the President was able to provide a 1% COLA for General Schedule (GS), or salaried, federal employees, however, he does not have the statutory authority to provide the same COLA to all federal workers.\u00a0 Beginning January 1, 2014, WG employee\u2019s wages will stay the same or even decrease thus creating a greater disparity between the wages of WG employees and GS employees.\n\u201cThe inconsistency in wages between WG and GS employees is inequitable.\u00a0 It hurts a group of Americans that can least afford a fourth year with no increase at all,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cFor this reason, I am proud to introduce this legislation which would benefit a group that has been particularly impacted by a four year pay freeze, the recent Defense furloughs and the government shutdown.\u201d\u00a0\nThere are over 174,000 WG employees who work for the Department of Defense (DoD) including 1,809 WG employees at Tobyhanna Army Depot.\u00a0 Other agencies with significant numbers as well include the Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.\nCartwright recognizes the economic importance of Tobyhanna, the largest employer in Northeastern Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Earlier this year, he introduced the Locality Pay Equity Act (H.R. 2450), which would simplify, make fair, and raise pay rates for all workers at Tobyhanna.\u00a0 H.R. 2450 would solve a local labor market boundary issue that has resulted in wage computation disparity between WG and GS employees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-introduces-legislation-to-address-disparate-pay-between-wage"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1198266185820103, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}