Civilian workers in Europe see drop of 17 percent or more in post allowance

Civilian workers in Europe see drop of 17 percent or more in post allowance
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Tuesday, November 11, 2008

STUTTGART, Germany — Post allowances given to U.S. civilian workers in Europe dipped across the continent once again on Sunday, with the declines hovering in the 30 percent range for most of the United Kingdom and Germany. The drops were less drastic in Italy and Belgium, where the allowance dropped about 17 percent.

The plunge continues a downward trend linked to recent gains by the dollar against major European currencies.

Since August, post allowance has dropped by about 60 percent in Germany. During the same time, the dollar has gained 14 percent against the euro.

A worker earning $42,000 a year with three dependents would have received $597 in post allowance in his mid-August paycheck. At the end of November, that same person will receive just $249, according to data from the U.S State Department’s Office of Allowances.

"It has an impact. There’s no doubt about that," said Armin Kandigiam, a civilian worker at the Hilltop Hotel in Stuttgart’s Robinson Barracks.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58743