The public is angry at federal employees, claiming they are overpaid and underworked. But new Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows federal employees are paid an average of 24 percent less than their private sector counterparts. The figure was presented to the Federal Salary Council last week.

GovExec reports the gap widened by two percentage points in 2010 versus 2009. The Council is made up of union leaders and federal managers. It makes annual pay recommendations to the President's Pay Agent. Meanwhile, the change in the Employment Cost Index was 1.6 percent in 2010. That figure could become the basis for the president's raise recommendation to be included in the 2012 budget proposal.

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