My name is Mathew Kolodzie and I am a Federal Employee.
I started working for the federal government in 2003 as a firefighter for the Department of Army. What I didn’t know at the time was that we federal firefighters work many more hours than the municipal firefighters. We are required to work 72 hrs a week, whereas the private sector works a 40 hr week. Those extra hours keep me from my family.
Now everyone claims as a federal employee that I am compensated very well for these extra hrs… I make actually less money than a five year employee at FDNY, than with my 8 years of service with Uncle Sam. The attacks on federal employees have to stop! People really need to do their homework before thinking we are all just fat cats rolling in money.
Now with my pay frozen I will be even more behind in pay than the other local firefighters. Just another blow to the federal workforce in general if you ask me. As a federal firefighter I am protecting those who serve America! Why am I getting made out to be no good, when I am doing so much for those who serve America?
Your free to find employment elsewhere. Although I do appreciate your job. Unfortunately you are probably not the one being looked at in a negative light. And I understand the use of a fireman’s image to make a point.
Phil, he could be a putz and go to work for the local or state making much more. He is a dedicated American and I’m thankful for people such as Matt that help keep people like us safe.
How right you are Matt! I was a Federal FF myself for 14 years and then we went into an “Airport Authority System”. I had a total for 29 years when I retired and receive my pension via CSRS. I know all too well about the Federal FF’s getting the shaft years ago and still today. Thank’s to our ‘wonderful politicians’ you still enjoy longer work hours and less pay than your municipal counter parts! Congress enjoys their own system whereas they are exempt from the regular Federal employees, this needs to stop!!! I remember years ago, around 1976-77 when our wonder President Jimmy Carter vetoed the Federal Firefighters bill that was tacked on to the Postal Reform Act. Had this bill been approved you would be enjoying a 56 hour work week and other compensation to which Federal FF’s deserve now. Our politicians do not have a clue about the works of the Federal Fire Service, and they don’t care. Our politicians need to have “term limits” on their employment and position. They should not have their own retirement system or paid-in-full health coverage that the everyday taxpayer foot’s the bill for! You have a rough road to climb being a Federal Firefighter as our government doesn’t care about you! I’m in the same boat with you as I’m drawing my pension without any COLA for the past 2 years and maybe the next 3 if congress gets their way, but congress will vote themselves a pay raise whenever they feel the need regardless of the economy, this again’ is not right! Good Luck to you and stay safe…….
A. Hutchinson, Retired Battalion Chief “Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority”
Arnold, I could not have said it better myself!!! Would love to see one of these polititians, live on our wages and benefits We as Americans need to pull together and give Congress just what they deserve. Nothing more then what us average everyday Government employees are making along with the same exact benefit package as your standard labor employee. Stop sending polititians to national disasters, it stops production flow and is nothing more then a side show and a waste of our tax payers dollars. We already know whats going on there is no need for a parade visit. I can go on forever, but will stop here.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I work for the government. I work for a fire cache as a material handler, supplying Forest Service Fire Fighters with thier supplies for example, food, tents, sleeping bags, fire hose, and a mobile cache van supplied for 200 men. These fire fighters sleep in tents out at camps putting thier live on the line, while other state run organizations pay to board thier employees in hotels and motels. They also get drive time to and from the motels. Now I hope everyone realizes thier are not many hotels in these areas, so many times your state employees are not fighting fires they are driving many of thier work hours. Many Federal Employees are just that Government employees because we want to help our country be the best that it can be. I started out at the DOD and transfered to USDA to be with my folks. Thank you Matt don’t think that there are not others out there that understand and appreciate what you do for our country.
Sincerely
Lisa