Attachment to CPM 2008-23

Pay Adjustments for Special Rate and Special Schedule Prevailing Rate Employees

Prevailing rate employees who receive special rates or are paid from special wage schedules are entitled to pay adjustments in FY 2009 on their normal effective dates. In many cases these adjustments must be made retroactively. Floor pay adjustments under section 142 for prevailing rate employees in FY 2009 are based on the January 2009 pay adjustments for General Schedule (GS) employees.

All prevailing rate employees under 5 U.S.C. 5342 who receive special rates or are paid from special wage schedules are subject to the pay limitation provisions of section 712. The floor pay adjustments required by section 142 must be determined as follows for special rate and special schedule employees:

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.251.

Description: Special rates.

Method: Prevailing rate employees who receive special rates are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work. The relevant GS adjustment amounts include both the across-the-board base GS increase and locality pay amounts.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.255.

Description: Regular appropriated fund wage schedules in foreign areas.

Method: Prevailing rate employees who are paid from appropriated funds in positions in foreign areas are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.257.

Description: Regular nonappropriated fund wage schedules in foreign areas.

Method: Prevailing rate employees who are paid from nonappropriated funds in positions in foreign areas are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.259.

Description: Special appropriated fund wage schedules for U.S. insular areas.

Method: Prevailing rate employees who are paid from appropriated funds in positions in U.S. insular areas are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.261.

Description: Special wage schedules for leader and supervisory wage employees in the Puerto Rico wage area.

Method: Prevailing rate Wage Leader (WL) and Wage Supervisor (WS) employees who are paid from appropriated funds in positions in Puerto Rico are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.263.

Description: Special wage schedules for production facilitating positions.

Method: Prevailing rate production facilitating employees in nonsupervisory (WD) and supervisory (WN) pay plans are paid rates based directly on regular schedule wage supervisor rates (WS). The floor pay adjustment for production facilitating employees is determined by the adjustment to relevant regular schedule wage supervisor rates.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.265.

Description: Special wage schedules for apprentices and shop trainees.

Method: Prevailing rate apprentices and shop trainees are paid rates equal to a percentage of the regular schedule journey level rate for a position in their wage area. The floor pay adjustment for apprentices and shop trainees is determined by the adjustment to relevant regular schedule rates. The percentage rates received by apprentices and shop trainee employees continue to be based on adjusted regular wage schedule rates.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.267.

Description: Special wage schedules for aircraft, electronic, and optical instrument overhaul and repair positions in the Puerto Rico wage area.

Method: Prevailing rate employees in aircraft, electronic, and optical instrument overhaul and repair positions in Puerto Rico are paid rates based on a special wage survey in Puerto Rico. The floor pay adjustment for these employees is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.269.

Description: Special wage schedules for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation lock and dam positions.

Method: U.S. Army Corps of Engineer prevailing rate employees who operate lock and dam equipment or repair and maintain navigation lock and dam operating machinery equipment are entitled to floor pay adjustments equal to the percentage pay adjustments received by GS employees in their Army Corps of Engineers District headquarters location. If all lock and dam operations under a District Headquarters are located within a single wage area, they are entitled to floor pay adjustments received by GS employees in that area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.271.

Description: Special wage schedules for National Park Service positions in overlap areas.

Method: The Department of the Interior establishes special wage schedules for employees in the National Park Service jurisdictions of Blue Ridge Parkway, Natchez Trace Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These jurisdictions overlap more than one regular prevailing rate wage area. The wage schedule for each jurisdiction is based on the highest average regular wage schedule applicable in any part of the jurisdiction. The floor pay adjustment for these employees is determined by the adjustment to relevant regular schedule rates and the selection of the highest applicable wage schedule. There is no change in the policy of selecting the highest wage schedule applicable in each jurisdiction.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.273.

Description: Special wage schedules for United States Information Agency Radio Antenna Rigger positions.

Method: The Department of State establishes wage rates for Radio Antenna Riggers at transmitting and relay stations in the U.S. equal to regular schedule rates plus a 25 percent differential. The floor pay adjustment for these employees is determined by the adjustment to relevant regular wage schedule rates. The 25 percent differential continues to be based on the regular schedule rates after they are adjusted.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.275.

Description: Special wage schedules for ship surveyors in Puerto Rico.

Method: Employees in ship surveyor positions in Puerto Rico receive rates of pay equal to a percentage amount above rates on the wage schedule for appropriated fund wage employees in foreign areas. The floor pay adjustment for these employees is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.277.

Description: Special wage schedules for U.S. Navy positions in Bridgeport, California.

Method: Employees in U.S. Navy prevailing rate positions in Bridgeport, California, receive rates of pay equal to regular schedule rates for the Reno, Nevada, wage area plus a 10 percent differential. Employees are entitled to floor pay adjustments equal to the percentage pay adjustments received by GS employees in the Reno, Nevada, wage area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.279.

Description: Special wage schedules for printing positions.

Method: The Washington, DC, special wage schedule for printing and lithographic positions is the only special wage schedule currently authorized under this section. The floor pay adjustment for these printing positions in the Washington, DC, wage area is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-PA-VA-WV GS locality pay area.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.281.

Description: Special wage schedules for divers and tenders.

Method: Employees in positions with diving duties receive rates during shifts they perform those duties equal to 175 percent of the regular schedule WG-10, step 2, rate for their wage area. Employees in positions with tending duties receive rates during shifts they perform tending duties equal to the regular schedule WG-10, step 2, rate for their wage area. The floor pay adjustment for these employees is determined by the adjustment to relevant regular wage schedule rates for their wage area. The structure of diving and tending rates remains the same as above.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.283.

Description: Special wage schedules for nonappropriated fund waiter or waitress positions.

Method: Prevailing rate employees in waiter or waitress positions must receive percentage pay adjustments equal to the percentage pay adjustments received by GS employees where they work.

Pay Authority: 5 CFR 532.285.

Description: Special wage schedules for Bureau of Reclamation supervisory positions.

Method: Prevailing rate employees in Bureau of Reclamation supervisory positions are entitled to floor pay adjustments equal to the percentage pay adjustments received by GS employees where they work. In certain Bureau of Reclamation wage areas, the Bureau must issue more than one wage schedule for a wage area if the wage area’s area of application coincides with more than one GS locality pay area.

Special Pay Provisions Documented Under OPM Operating Manual,
Federal Wage System, Appendix V

Section A

Area Differential Schedules, Alaska

Method: In certain remote locations in Alaska, the Department of Defense establishes differential wage schedules for certain wage employees of the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, and the General Services Administration. These 4 percent, 8 percent, or 12 percent differential wage schedules are based on the regular wage schedule for the Alaska wage area. The floor pay adjustment for employees under this section is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Section B

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Floating Plant and Hopper Dredge Schedules

Method: The Department of Defense establishes wage schedules for Floating Plant wage employees based on rates identical to the regular Federal Wage System schedule for the wage area in which an Army Corps of Engineers district headquarters is located. This pay practice will continue, with one wage schedule applicable for all Floating Plant employees in an Army Corps of Engineers District.

The Department of Defense establishes wage schedules for Hopper Dredge wage employees. The floor pay adjustment for those employees paid from the Atlantic and Gulf Coast schedule is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD GS locality pay area. For those employees paid from the West Coast schedule, the floor pay adjustment is equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA locality pay area.

Section D

Power Plant Group

Method: The Department of the Interior establishes wage schedules for wage employees at the Green Springs Powerplant in Ashland, Oregon, and the Hungry Horse Project in Montana. Prevailing rate employees who work at these facilities are entitled to a floor increase equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area.

Section E

Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Group

Method: The special schedules documented in section E are for Electronic Equipment Maker, Installer, and Repairer, and Radio Maintenance Employees in Washington, DC; Television System Employees in Washington, DC; Teletype and Crypto Communications Installing and Repairing employees in Washington, DC, and western Maryland; and Radio and Receiving Technicians of the Department of State at relay stations in Greenville, NC; Marathon, FL; Bethany, OH; Dixon, CA; and Delano, CA. Prevailing rate employees under these special schedules are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Section F

Construction Schedules

Method: Section F documents special wage schedules used by several Departments for employees who perform construction work. Employees on these special wage schedules are paid rates equal to Davis-Bacon Act rates or rates based on local wage survey findings for local construction industry jobs if Davis-Bacon Act rates are not available. Section F also documents special wage schedules called Purchase Hire schedules for Department of the Army and Department of the Air Force employees who perform construction work. The single job rates established for these positions may be higher than regular wage schedule rates. Prevailing rate employees under these special schedules are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Section G

Special Supervisory Schedules

Method: Section G documents several Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, and Department of Transportation special wage schedules applicable to supervisory wage employees at the Grand Coulee Project Powerplant in Washington, the San Carlos Irrigation Project in Arizona, the Colorado River Agency in Arizona, the Yakima Agency and Fort Simcoe Job Corps in Washington, the Yakima Project in Washington, the Western Area Power Administration, and the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation in New York. Prevailing rate employees under these special schedules are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Section H

Special Vessel Schedules

Method: Section H documents Department of the Interior special wage schedules for Isle Royale National Park in Michigan, the Great Lakes Fishing Laboratory in Michigan, and the Jordan River National Fish Hatchery in Michigan. Prevailing rate employees under these special schedules are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Section I

Special Schedules Not Listed Under Other Authorities

Method: Section I documents the special wage schedule for wage employees of the Department of the Interior’s Lower Colorado Regional Office in Boulder City, Nevada. Rates of pay for employees on this special wage schedule are based directly on negotiated rates at Hoover Dam. Prevailing rate employees on this special schedule are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Special Pay Provisions Documented Under OPM Operating Manual,
Federal Wage System Nonappropriated Fund, Appendix V

The special schedules documented in sections A, B, and C of Appendix V are established on a commission rate or piece rate basis based on surveys of prevailing practices in local private industry. The Army Air Force Exchange Service, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Navy Exchange Service Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Canteen Service are documented as activities using commission rate or piece rate pay practices. Prevailing rate employees under these special schedules are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.

Pay Adjustments for 5 U.S.C. 5348 Wage Employees

Prevailing Rate Maritime Employees of the Department of the Navy are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Ship Pilots areas are entitled to a floor pay adjustment equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area.

Prevailing Rate Maritime Employees of agencies other than the Department of the Navy are entitled to floor pay adjustments equal to the percentage pay adjustment received by GS employees where they work.