Dear NTEU Members:

 

During the week of March 3, 2008, Mark Daggett, Peggy Miller, and I were in Washington, D.C. meeting with members of Congress about Federal employees issues.  The meetings were part of NTEU’s Annual Legislative Conference.

 

There were hundreds of NTEU members there and during our three days we were all over Capitol Hill making sure that members of Congress understand the work we do and our need for their support. 

 

Our delegation met with Senator Robert C. Byrd, Senator John D. Rockefeller, Representative Shelley Moore Capito, Representative Alan B. Mollohan, and Representative Nick J. Rahall II.  It is always interesting to meet with members of Congress, or their staff, because it soon becomes clear that some members strongly support us and our issues and others still need to be educated on the important work we do.

 

Last year NTEU had a successful year on Capitol Hill and this year we want to build on that momentum.  These are our legislative priority issues. We need the support of all NTEU members to make things happen:

ü      A fair and competitive pay raise for Federal employees;

ü      More affordable health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHPB), including expanding flexible spending accounts to retirees and eliminating health savings accounts;

ü      An end to the administration’s continuing efforts to privatize as many Federal jobs as possible;

ü      A return to Federal sector Labor-Management Partnership as a means of providing opportunities for employee voices to be heard;

ü      Elimination of retiree pension offsets that substantially and unfairly reduce Social Security benefits for many Federal retirees;

ü      And attention to the Department of Homeland Security issues, including the continuing fight for law enforcement officer status for Customs and Border Protection Officers, opposition to anti-employee personnel rules and an end to the misguided “One Face at the Border” program in CBP.

 

NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley also spoke to all NTEU members in town for the conference.  She talked about the importance of participating in the upcoming election process.

 

Your help and support in achieving a successful legislative year are crucial. You can keep up-to-date on legislative issues through the Legislative Action Center on the NTEU website, at www.nteu.org

 

Russell Wooten

Chapter President