News
12.05.13
Longtime friend to IFPTE, Senator Barbara Mikulski steps up for federal employees
Senate Appropriations Chairwoman, Senator Barbara Mikulski urges budget negotiators to, "to reach a deal that acknowledges the value of federal employees by avoiding sequester for at least two years and rejecting draconian proposals to require federal employees to pay substantially more for their retirement."12.04.13
Wolf Tells Appropriations Not to "Cherry Pick" Recommendations
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to deal fairly with federal workers as they address ‘our nation’s crushing fiscal challenges'. Said Wolf, "I cannot, in good conscientious, support a budget agreement that asks the federal workforce to once again disproportionately feel the brunt of Washington’s failure to share the pain."11.25.13
Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine, steps up in support of federal workers
As Senate and House budget negotiators work to hammer out a budget deal, Senate Kaine informs them that an agreement can be reached, "without targeting federal employees who have already been impacted by multiple deficit reduction efforts in the past."11.22.13
A Call to Federal Service in President John F. Kennedy's Memory
Let the public service be a proud and lively career," he said in his first State of the Union address, 10 days after taking office. "And let every man and woman who works in any area of our national government, in any branch, at any level, be able to say with pride and with honor in future years: 'I served the United States government in that hour of our nation's need.11.19.13
IFPTE urges a 'yes' vote on Gillibrand military justice amendment
IFPTE tells Senators that the Gillibrand amendment, "is critically important to ensure that our military men & women and civil servants have access to an impartial process by which to report major workplace crimes such as sexual misconduct and rape."11.16.13
IFPTE Calls on Obama Administration to be Transparent with Respect to TVA Divestiture Effort
After communicating with the Office and Management and Budget (OMB) last week, IFPTE sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking information “from any staff at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) related to the Tennessee Valley Authority.”11.15.13
TVA divestiture? Obama Administration seemingly moving full steam ahead.
Following up on a call that IFPTE had with OMB this week regarding the Obama Administration’s apparent interest in selling off the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), IFPTE penned a letter to OMB and TVA, stating that, "In our view the belief that the TVA’s mission is no longer essential and is somehow linked the fiscal sustainability of the overall federal budget is ill-advised."11.15.13
Local 70 Member and Economic Policy Institute’s Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, Dr. Robert Scott blogs, “House Signals Opposition to Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership”
Dr. Scott writes that, "Congress is wise to pause before giving the president carte blanche to negotiate new trade deals and wise to demand fuller consultation with Congress on the content of those deals."11.15.13
Federal Workers Alliance (FWA) weighs-in with congressional budget negotiators on behalf of federal employees
"The FWA urges budget conferees to craft a long-term budget solution that ends the sequester without inflicting additional financial burden on the backs of federal employees."11.11.13
IFPTE urges "unison" on this Veterans Day
As Americans celebrate and honor Veterans Day, IFPTE reminds Congressional leaders that, "we must all rise in unison as a nation and reject sequestration and its scorched-earth approach that hurts our veterans and our soldiers who are still in harm’s way, as well as the hundreds of thousands of hard working civilian defense workers across the land."11.08.13
D.C. Administrative Law Judge Organizing Gets Boost from Ruling
City administrative law judges seeking to organize got a boost last week when a hearing examiner ruled in their favor, saying that “there is no conflict of interest, appearance of a conflict of interest or impropriety created by exclusive representation by IFPTE.” Said IFPTE’s Chris Langford, “We find it extremely refreshing to finally get an official DC document that vindicates what we’ve been saying for over a year.” The judges and union say they’re “hopeful that Mayor Gray, along with the City Council, will prevent the Chief from appealing this to Superior Court as part of her strategy to delay these ALJs from activating their right to engage in collective bargaining.” They also continue to push for voluntary recognition of the DC ALJ bargaining unit “so we can be done with this issue and stop wasting taxpayer dollars11.08.13
IFPTE Weighs-in with Budget Negotiators
"Instead of talking about cutting Social Security, or vouchering Medicare and block-granting Medicaid, or hammering federal employees, IFPTE urges your committee to focus on strategic and prudent investments in infrastructure, education, and innovative American manufacturing."11.01.13
Labor supports passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013
Saying that, "WRDA is a jobs bill and will go a long way toward the creation and preservation of hundreds of thousands of American jobs," seven labor organizations, including IFPTE and the AFL-CIO, wrote to key lawmakers in anticipation of the WRDA conference.10.30.13
IFPTE Endorses Bipartisan Collins/McCaskill Enhanced Security Clearance Act of 2013
While recognizing that "there are a number of serious outstanding concerns that we look forward to seeing addressed in future legislation," IFPTE says that this legislation is a good first step in making "America more secure and its workforce safer."10.25.13
IFPTE Endorses Kevin Strouse to represent the 8th Congressional District of Pennsylvania
Local 3 President calls Strouse, "the perfect candidate for working people".10.23.13
IFPTE Urges the House to support the Water Resources Development Act, while also rejecting the Young/Petri privatization amendment
In a letter urging a yes vote on HR 3080, IFPTE warns lawmakers that the Young/Petri amendment to privatize Army Corps mapping and surveying services, "is simply irresponsible."10.17.13
POTUS Says "Thank You" to Federal Workers
President Obama wrote a letter of appreciation to the "dedicated and hard-working federal employees" upon the reopening of the federal government.10.17.13
Congress Votes to Reopen Government, Extend Debt Ceiling
While applauding tonight's congressional action, IFPTE warns that, "Congress must learn from this horrible mistake and commit itself never to repeat it."10.16.13
Shutdown But Not Shut Out
‘What happens when 1.5 million consumers and taxpayers are no longer being paid because they’ve been locked out of their jobs through no fault of their own?’10.11.13
Junemann Issues a 'Call to Action' on Federal Gov't Shutdown
Many of you have contacted the Federation’s office asking how you can help. My message is very simple. Stand up! Speak out! Fight back!
