Retiree Pension Raises Vary by System

Although the COLA is lower than in past years, Baptiste said she is "always grateful" for the annual adjustments, which help prevent federal pensions from being eroded by inflation.

Baptiste, who joined NARFE in 1978 when her husband retired from the government, said she "spent a lot of my life as a stay-at-home mom" and appreciates that Congress has provided a COLA for her survivor's annuity and for her Social Security.

While retirement systems for government employees provide COLAs, the benefit has faded in the private sector. Only 7 percent of employees in the private sector are covered by pension plans that provide automatic COLAs, the Congressional Research Service said in a recent report.

Labor Department data show that only 20 percent of private-sector workers participated in a pension plan last year and that 43 percent of private-sector workers contributed to a 401(k) plan.

While federal employees have access to a pension and the 401(k)-type Thrift Savings Plan, only 15 percent of private-sector workers had both types of plans available to them in 2006, the research service said.

Looking to the Future

A breakfast discussion on "Federal Workforce Transformation: Priorities for the Future" will be held Oct. 23 at the Riggs Library on the Georgetown University campus.

Alexis M. Herman, former secretary of labor, will moderate a panel discussion, starting at 7:30 a.m. Panel members will include Michael L. Dominguez of the Defense Department and Kevin E. Mahoney of the Office of Personnel Management.

The session is sponsored by Georgetown's Public Policy Institute and Accenture's Institute for Public Service Value. To attend, register by Friday at http://www.gppidialogue.com.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.