FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — After a sizable increase last year, wage system employees will see another pay increase this year.
On average, non-supervisory wage system employees and leader positions will see a 5.23% pay increase, while supervisory wage system employees will receive a 5.10% pay increase.
This increase went into effect July 28.
Amber Anderson, a maintenance mechanic with Directorate of Public Works Operations and Maintenance Division, said the increase was much needed.
Robert Blas, another maintenance mechanic with the DPW OMD, agreed.
“I think it’s an amazing thing because of prices rising, and it helps even for the maintenance department — for us — to progress and get a fair pay amongst technicians working hard out here,” Blas said. “I think (the pay increase) would help out, basically, for everyone to upkeep and manage their bills, especially with inflation coming up.”
The increases come after a wage change survey was conducted in May. Fort Cavazos was the host installation for the May 2024 Waco area Wage Change Survey.
A wage change survey differs from a full-scale wage survey, which was conducted last year, in that wage adjustment data is collected by telephone from those companies that provided useable job matches on the full-scale survey. No other companies are contacted, and only dollar figures are updated. Job matches and job populations are not changed on this type of survey.
A full-scale wage survey is held every two years. During the survey, industries in the local area (Bell, Coryell and McLennan Counties) are surveyed to compile market pay data to assess the effectiveness of the current federal wage system pay structure and rates. The survey includes establishments in the following industries: wholesale trade, manufacturing, public utilities, transportation and communications.
“(The pay increase) is another step toward paying an appropriate, compensable wage that is in line with what our colleagues in the private sector are earning,” said Catherine Levandovsky, Labor, Management, Employee Relations Division chief with the Civilian Human Resource Agency-West. “So that’s really, really important for our blue-collar trades to make a comparable wage to what the private sector’s making, helps us with retention, helps us complete the mission on Fort Cavazos and, really, it’s a quality of life issue for our wage system employees.
“We want to make sure that they’re being paid not only well, but fairly and equitably for the jobs that they’re doing,” she continued.
While the pay increase is in effect, it will take time to reflect in paychecks, as the new pay tables must be uploaded in the pay system, then adjustments must be completed and ensured they are correct, Levandovsky said.
Brian Dosa, director of DPW, spoke on the importance of wage systems employees and the role they play, specifically for the Operations and Maintenance Division.
“The success of DPW is dependent on the work of our technicians in the Operations and Maintenance Division, who we cannot pay enough for the great work they do every day in serving Soldiers, families and units at Fort Cavazos,” Dosa expressed. “Although understaffed and often at the mercy of the supply chain for repair parts, they are doing amazing work sustaining our facilities and infrastructure. This pay raise is more than well deserved and will allow us to better recruit and retain our very talented employees.”
When asked why he chose to work for the government, Blas said it was the progress and his coworkers that made it appealing.
“Because (the government’s) opportunities to grow and learn and progress here within this company is at its best,” he said. “It’s the people that surround me, that inspire our need to progress and better a career.”
Anderson was laid off her previous job as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic and chose her current job with the government because it’s solid, reliable and able to help people.
“I love being able to help people,” she said. “I’m a single mother, so I know I need to take anything that’s steady and reliable. Being able to help our Soldiers in a capacity that I’m able to while also being able to take care of my family was a good opportunity to take that I didn’t want to pass up.”
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