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Who We Are

NTEU is widely known as a smart, tough organization, well-respected for its knowledge of federal employee issues. And for its determination to work with federal agencies, with Congress, and in the courts to protect, promote and expand the rights of those it represents.

For 70 years, NTEU has been driven by the principle that every federal employee should be treated with dignity and respect. In that time, NTEU has grown to represent some 150,000 bargaining unit employees in 31 federal agencies and departments.

NTEU members are represented by an experienced and professional staff in Washington, D.C., seven field offices across the nation and highly trained, dedicated local leaders in their workplaces.

A History of Success

Here is a sampling of NTEU’s proud and successful history—from courtroom and legislative victories, to significant contractual and workplace improvements to precedent-setting arbitration wins and much more.

•  Launched a public service campaign, titled They Work for US, highlighting the important work federal employees perform featuring actual federal workers talking about their duties.

• Launched a successful campaign to cancel the IRS private tax collection program.

• Consistently fights for fair and competitive annual pay raises for federal civilian employees.

• Won and implemented the enhanced Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) retirement benefits for Customs and Border Protection Officers.

• Saw the files work returned to IRS employees at seven service centers after years of opposition

• Chartered new Transportation Security Administration chapters and continued nationwide organizing efforts

• Won a five-year battle to defeat administration efforts to create an anti-union, anti-employee labor relations system at the Department of Homeland Security by severely restricting collective bargaining rights.

• Won $533 million in back pay for federal employees when an appeals court ruled against President Nixon’s 1972 pay raise deferral.

• Fought for passage of a bill that made permanent a child care tuition assistance program for federal employees.

• Aggressively pushed for Flexible Spending Accounts for federal employees and an initiative allowing the use of pretax income to pay health care premiums.

• Secured an expansion of the ability to contribute to or modify contributions to the federal Thrift Savings Plan.

• Fought successfully for a dental-vision plan for federal workers.

• Won the right for federal employees to earn compensatory time for business travel outside normal work hours.

• Won thousands of dollars in back pay for Customs and Border Protection Officers forced to work an unpaid sixth day of training.

• Won a federal court ruling that employees have the right to review promotion files.

• Fought for, and secured, reforms to the 1939 Hatch Act that expanded political and legislative action rights of federal employees.

• Negotiated a precedent-setting employee salary and benefit package with the FDIC.

• Secured priority promotion consideration for 1,400 IRS employees in the largest case of its kind ever in the federal sector.

• Beat back an IRS attempt to close dozens of its Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide.

• Won a first-ever court victory against an agency’s illegal use of appropriated funds to give federal jobs to a contractor without giving employees the chance to compete.

Strong Leadership NTEU is led by two full-time elected officers — National President Colleen M. Kelley and National Executive VicePresident Frank D. Ferris — and 15 elected district national vice presidents. Kelley, a former IRS Revenue Agent, was first elected to the union’s top post in August 1999, after a four-year term as national executive vice president. She was overwhelmingly re-elected to a third term in August 2007. Her dedication to improving the lives of federal employees   is clear from her exemplary service to NTEU and its members at the local and national levels for more than 20 years. Ferris has served NTEU for over 31 years. Prior to his election as national executive vice president, he was director of NTEU’s Negotiations Department. The district national vice presidents sit on the NTEU Executive Board along with Kelley and Ferris and together they are leading NTEU to even greater success.

The Voice of Federal Employees

On Capitol Hill
NTEU is leading the fight for fair pay and benefits and for laws that improve the quality of work life for federal employees. Full-time lobbyists work with NTEU leaders and members across the country to educate elected officials on federal employee issues.

At the Bargaining Table
Known for the most innovative contracts in the federal sector, NTEU’s bargaining expertise is reflected in such gains as alternative work schedules, flexiplace, transit subsidies, performance awards and much more. Skilled negotiators fight for local and national agreements that advance federal employee rights and benefits.

In the Courts
NTEU has a history of establishing major legal principles and winning millions of dollars in back pay for federal workers not receiving proper compensation for overtime work. In one instance, it pursued a case for 22 years, winning special rate employees more than $178 million in back pay. In another, it won $533 million in back pay for delayed pay raises.

In the Workplace
Experienced attorneys working in offices around the country serve as the direct connection between NTEU chapters and the National Office, and represent members in grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice hearings, and more. Highly-trained stewards work to resolve employee issues at the lowest possible level and negotiate over local changes to working conditions.

In the Media
Skilled communications specialists take the message of the importance of federal workers to the media and produce publications—both print and electronic—that keep members updated on a timely basis. At the local level, chapters keep members informed of issues via deskdrops, e-mail, web sites, newsletters, meetings and more.