TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The Federal Wage System was developed under the provisions of public law in 1972.
Rates of pay for employees in the FWS (WS, WD, WL, WG) are identified as prevailing rates, which means they are reflective of pay rates for similar private sector jobs in the same geographical area. Prevailing rates are based on the following principles: Equal pay for substantially equal work, maintaining the levels of the rates of pay in line with prevailing rates in the local wage area, and maintaining such rates of pay to attract and retain quality prevailing rate employees.
The Department of Defense is designated by the Office of Personnel Management to serve as the lead agency in approximately 115 wage areas. The DOD Wage Staff provides guidance to the Local Wage Survey Committee to assure timely completion of the wage survey.
The Wage survey for the Oklahoma City area will occur in August. Several data collection teams will visit selected businesses and gather information about wage rates paid to employees performing work, which is comparable to specific grades of FWS jobs. Each business must have at least 50 employees and be located in Oklahoma, Cleveland, Canadian, McClain or Pottawatomie counties. Rates paid to state and local government trades workers are not considered.
The following jobs are required to be under survey: janitor (light), janitor (heavy), material handler, maintenance laborer, packer, helper (trades), warehouseman, fork lift operator, material handling equipment operator, truck driver (medium), truck driver (heavy), machine tool operator II, machine tool operator I, carpenter, electrician, automotive mechanic and toolmaker. The LWSC may recommend other jobs be surveyed. In previous surveys, aircraft mechanic and aircraft structures assembler positions were also surveyed.
The LWSC will conduct hearings on March 17 in Bldg. 4023, the 38th CEIG Theater at 4023 Hilltop Road. The purpose is to permit presentation of information, requests and recommendations by the local organizations and individuals concerning the areas, industries, establishments and jobs to be covered in the wage survey. The LWSC is not authorized to hear issues/requests outside the purpose stated above.
Recommendations and supporting evidence should be submitted in writing before or at the hearings. Contact Charlotte Davis at 736-7400 by March 14 to submit information or to schedule an appointment to testify before the committee.