(WASHINGTON) – The American Federation of Government Employees commended Representative Tom Perriello (D-VA) for his amendment to the FY11 National Defense Authorization Act which would exclude health care and retirement costs from any insourcing cost comparisons when contractors contribute less toward health care and retirement benefits for contractor employees than Congress requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to contribute for civilian employees’ benefits. The same approach was required for outsourcing cost comparisons during the Bush administration.
“The Perriello Amendment ensures a more level playing field in the DoD when it comes to either keeping jobs with the federal government or outsourcing them,” declared AFGE National President John Gage. “With the economic recovery still underway the promotion of good jobs should continue to be a Congressional priority. Contractors should not be rewarded for contributing less toward employee health care and retirement benefits than the federal government. Representative Perriello, whose amendment was added on the floor to the House defense bill without a vote, is to be commended for his leadership on this important issue.”

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.