European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a the stars and stripes sunday october 21,1990plan revamps Federal pay system wages would parallel private sector by Tom Bowman the Baltimore Sun Washington a Federal employees will receive annual pay increases of about 5 percent Between 1992 and 1994, along with extra pay in the following years to close any gaps Between government employees and their private counterparts As part of a sweeping $4 billion pay agreement reached Friday Between Congress and the Bush administration. Federal employees in High Cost areas a such As new York los Angeles and Washington a where there Are problems of retaining and recruiting workers would also receive a locality Quot pay increases in addition to the across the Board salary increases. A by bringing the pay system into line with the private sector i am hopeful we can Stem the erosion of morale and the loss of some of our Best people from Federal employment a said rep. Stony Hoyer d-md., the Lead negotiator of the plan. A for too Many years Federal government employees have been paid an average of 30 percent less than competitive positions Are paid in Many areas a he said. The agreement approved Friday Between House and Senate conferees a with the Blessing of the Bush administration a includes a 4.1 percent increase for Federal employees that will go into effect Jan. 1. The administration initially sought a 3.5 percent raise for next year. The agreement still faces final House and Senate votes As Well As the presidents signature which could come As Early As this week Hoyer said. A this is the biggest change in How Federal employees have been paid in Over 20 years a said one congressional aide who took part in the discussions. A this pay Reform Deal is an exciting Opportunity to rebuild worker morale a said John Sturdivant president of the american federation of government employees which represents 700,000 Federal workers. Under the measure Federal employees in 1992 and 1993 will be guaranteed an increase that would reflect the employment Cost Index set by the Bureau of labor statistics. The most recent figure is 5.4 percent. The president would have the discretion to alter these adjustments Down to 5 percent Only in the event of War or severe economic conditions defined As two consecutive quarters of negative Gnu growth. Even if the eci is less than 5 percent workers would receive that percentage increase. The Bureau of labor statistics would also conduct annual pay surveys throughput the country to determine whether a pay adjustment is needed to keep Pace with private Enterprise in areas that have a pay disparity of greater than 5 percent. Those areas would receive an initial locality adjustment of at least 20 percent of the local pay disparity in 1994. In subsequent years the president would be required to close the local pay Gap by an additional 10 percent each year until the pay disparity in each area would have been closed by 95 percent. The locality pay is expected to make in $1.8 billion of the package which is expected to Cost $4 billion Over the next four years. Another portion of the agreement gives the president the authority to pay additional geographic adjustments of up to 8 percent Between 1991 and 1994, when locality pay becomes effective. Those increases would be used in areas where the Bureau of labor statistics determines that Large pay disparities Between government and private employees Are causing difficulties in attracting and keeping Federal  Dies after booze bout at Iii. University Macomb Iii. Up a an 18-year-old Western Illinois University freshman died Friday from apparent alcohol poisoning Campus authorities said. The death came at the close of National collegiate alcohol awareness week. Nicholas Haven of Oswego was pronounced dead on the Macomb Campus by Mcdonough county Coroner Larry Jameson. Preliminary autopsy results indicated Haven had ingested Large amounts of various types of alcohol Jameson said. A it does appear alcohol played a Large part in his death a he said. Win officials Friday night refused to confirm or deny reports that havens death was the result of an initiation into a Campus sports club Wius department of Public safety is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death and will turn the results Over to the Mcdonough county states attorney for possible action a spokeswoman said Friday night. Win president Ralph Wagoner called the death a a tragedy we shall not lose sight  a the fact that this tragedy took place during National collegiate alcohol awareness week is further illustration of the ongoing need to continue our educational Effort toward College students and others about the responsible use of alcohol a Wagoner  it to her is she or Isnit she a girl that a what parents of some losing team members wanted to know about Natasha Denis 10, because she a a Star goalie on her undefeated under-12 girls soccer team in fort Worth Texas. Five adults who suggested that Natasha plays too Well for a girl were barred from attending league games after they demanded that she undergo a gender Check. Essence hails top Black women Winnie Mandela at essences 20-year anniversary Celebration in new York on Friday. New York apr essence Magazine celebrated its 20th anniversary by honouring six african american women including grammy winning Singer Whitney Houston and actress Diahann Carroll at a Star studded gala Friday night. The ceremony before 6,000 people at sold out radio City music Hall also honoured gospel Singer Shirley Caesar dancer and anthropologist Katherine Dunham Singer Patti Labelle and diva leontyne Price. Bill Cosby was Host of the event. Singer Stephanie Mills talk show Host Oprah Winfrey members of the dance theater of Harlem and Singer Freddie Jackson joined him on stage. Special tribute was paid to Winnie Mandela and the late Sarah Vaughan the Singer known As  Mandela wife of South african anti apartheid activist Nelson Mandela received standing ovations As she stood onstage her Arm raised in the Black Power Salute. She accepted her award in the name of the african National Congress. Her husband is an Anc Leader. A i thank you very much for restoring the dignity of a brutalized woman a she told the gathering. Essence celebrates its 20th anniversary during the same year Black Enterprise Magazine hit 20 and Ebony 45. Essence had revenues of $19.8 million in 1989 and essence communications inc. Had total revenues of $38 million. Stateside prison guard arrested for violation of parole Somers Conn. Up a a guard at Connecticut a maximum Security prison in Somers has been arrested for being a fugitive from Justice in Massachusetts Connecticut state police said Friday. Rosemary Perez 26, of Springfield mass., was arrested last week at her Job As a corrections officer at the prison and was being held in lieu of $25,000 Bond police said. She was arrested on a Massachusetts warrant that charged her with violating probation in that state police said. Connecticut authorities did not know what charge Perez had been convicted of in Massachusetts. Connecticut corrections officials said they were examining the procedures used to Check Perez a background before she was hired As a prison guard. The Agency would not comment further because it was a personnel matter and spokesman William Wheeler could not say what Perez a Job status  by Roaches she has a blast killing them los Angeles apr a woman enraged by Roaches sparked an explosion by fumigating with nine pesticide loggers. A a that a probably about eight too Many for her apartment a police sgt Steve Laroche said. A her apartment no longer has any windows in  a Large crack also divides the living room ceiling but none of the other apartments in her building was affected when Vapours caused the insecticide eruption. The resident a who was not identified by police a was unhurt during the Quot blast at her two bedroom ground floor apartment Laroche said. It appears the Bug loggers did the trick. A i think she scared them All away a Laroche said. A they will not be Back for a  neighbors stayed away too until firefighters flushed out fumes with  universities to Mark King s birthday Columbus miss. Apr the states eight Public universities will cancel classes in Observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King  birthday. The 12-member state College Board has unanimously endorsed a decision to declare the civil rights leaders birthday a Holiday for College students. The vote without discussion came minutes after a speech by White supremacist Richard Barrett denouncing a King ism As a threat to National Unity. In september Board members approved the Holiday 6-5, with one member absent. Board guidelines require a second confirmation vote on any change of University policy including mandated holidays. A i am pleased the Board chose to reaffirm its position a said commissioner of higher education Ray Cleere. A they listened to opinions on All sides and then made their  Kings birthday is Jan. 15, but the universities can declare the Holiday on a Date near that