August 31, 1983
To the Congress of the United States:
Under the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970, an adjustment in Federal white collar pay will
be required in October, 1983.
The Act requires that calculations be made annually of the adjustments that would be required in
Federal statutory pay systems to achieve comparability with private sector pay for the same levels
of work. Using the calculation methods developed in the past, my pay advisers have indicated that
an average 21.51 percent increase would be required to achieve comparability as that concept is
presently defined.
The Comparability Act gives me the authority to propose an alternative adjustment in lieu of
comparability on the basis of ``economic conditions affecting the general welfare.'' Under that
authority, in accordance with our economic recovery program, I am submitting to the Congress
an Alternative Plan for a 3.5 percent increase in Federal white collar pay effective in January,
1984 in lieu of the 21.51 percent increase indicated under current comparability calculation
methods.
Current law governing military pay increases provides that the annual increase in military pay be
the same as the average Federal white collar increase. The Congress is currently considering
legislation that could affect both military and civilian pay increases. If legislation is enacted, it
could supersede the increase that Federal employees would otherwise receive under this
Alternative Plan.
Ronald Reagan
The White House,
August 31, 1983.