President Barack Obama issued a new executive order that will adjust the pay rates for certain federal employees for the upcoming year.

The executive order, "Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay," ordered a "1 percent across-the-board pay raise" for federal employees. The executive order was signed and issued on Dec. 19, before Obama went on vacation in Hawaii.

According to U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Katherine Archuleta, the executive order's pay increase is for "statutory pay systems" that include the General Schedule, Foreign Service schedule and certain schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs and "provides that locality percentages will remain at 2014 levels."

The pay increase is reportedly the second-consecutive time an increase was provided for federal employees as there was previously a three-year pay freeze in effect. The pay freeze was originally in effect by Obama during his first term.

The 1-percent increase will also be in effect for uniformed military service members.

The pay increase does not affect Congress, the vice president and several senior political appointees covered by the Executive Schedule as a result of the 2015 Cromnibus spending bill package.

An example of how much the 1 percent pay raise equates to is the rate for the Senior Executive Services, who may receive at least $121,956 in 2015. Senior-level and scientific and professional positions under the General Schedule could receive $121,956 in 2015 due to the 1 percent raise.

Despite the pay increase, unions representing federal workers said the expected pay is not enough to meet with cost-of-living expenses.

"One percent is not nearly enough to make up for the financial hardship wrought by years of frozen pay and substandard increases," American Federation of Government Employees President J. David Cox said in a statement. "Including the FY15 increase, employees have seen a paltry 2 percent total increase in their paychecks over last five years. When accounting for inflation, most federal workers have actually taken a substantial pay cut."

"I am pleased that federal employees will be receiving a pay raise in January," National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley said, via Government Executive. "Though the workforce deserves and appreciates this raise, I remain concerned about the widening gap between federal and private-sector pay."

The pay increases will be in effect on Jan. 11, 2015, based on the standard payroll cycle.

White House Executive Order - Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay:

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