When building trades workers take action against anti-union contractors, the labor mascot Scabby the Rat often makes an appearance on their picket lines. But for the last week, Scabby has accompanied workers wielding ballpoint pens, not wrenches, as federal employees picket outside the office of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) director Rohit Chopra.

CFPB workers from Chapter 335 of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) have been embroiled in a protracted pay dispute with the agency that has forced them to work without a contract since December 31. The conflict centers around increasing “pay bands,” or salary ranges for workers at different ranks. NTEU is pushing for an increase, without which many lower-level workers would not be able to receive merit pay or bonuses. With the contract expired, CFPB employees are now the only federal workers who haven’t received a raise or local cost-of-living increase in 2024.

Making it all the worse is the fact that the agency recently increased pay bands for top-level managers, who account for only fifty-five of the agency’s nearly 1,700-strong workforce. Some of these managers now make up to $269,000 a year. In response, NTEU organized members to send sarcastic emails with the subject line “Congratulations on your raises!” to Chopra and other high-level agency officials.