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Here is what they had to say during today’s opening session: “There is importance in carrying a union card, and the American public is seeing the value in being pro-union. When we have stronger unions, we have a strong middle class. It keeps our country moving forward.” -Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio “NTEU members have helped execute critical responses to the ...

The event, organized in honor of Black History Month, featured guest speaker Ed Tillet, a diversity professional and Director of Multicultural Business Programs at Michigan State University. Chapter President Malcolm Alexander-Neal noted that the conversation was great, touching on diversity, reaching out to colleagues of color and getting to know them and ...

Washington D.C. – The IRS has canceled plans to close the Tax Processing Center in Austin, a welcome reprieve for frontline employees in Texas who can now stay on the job tackling the backlog of returns, processing new ones and improving service to all American taxpayers. The National Treasury Employees Union, as early as May 2021, had urged the IRS to ...

Find out in the latest Political Insider and learn what NTEU is doing to help get our members involved and engaged. With a record number of NTEU allies in the House announcing their retirement and congressional redistricting, this election could look very different for our members. What isn’t new are those on Capitol Hill who continuously propose anti-union ...

Led by the Vice President and Secretary of Labor, NTEU commends the work of the Task Force for promoting and protecting worker rights in the executive branch as an example for the private sector, and unequivocally declaring the value of strong unions. We were honored to make key recommendations and participate in the Task Force’s research for this report, ...

Washington D.C. – A strong new coalition within Congress, citing concerns about taxpayer assistance and filing season delays, is advocating for immediate and long-term investments to rebuild the IRS. In letters to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, members of the House and Senate outline some of the damage done to the IRS by a decade of budget cuts and ...

The court’s ruling in favor of NTEU and two other unions restores the longstanding status quo that the FLRA tried to jettison and means that agencies must bargain over any management-initiated change that has more than a minor, “de minimis” impact on a condition of employment.     The FLRA had attempted to weaken collective bargaining by only requiring ...

Below is a preview of our cover story: Your contract is so important because it provides for workplace programs, benefits and protections, and creates a process for resolving workplace disputes. It holds management accountable and ensures everyone has equal opportunities. Because every workplace is different, each NTEU contract is tailored to address the ...

The Federal Academic Alliance program now partners with 26 colleges and universities to offer federal employees, and in some cases their family members, discounted tuition rates and scholarships.   Florida Institute of Technology, Rosemont College, and Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies or College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Office of ...

Washington D.C. – Taxpayers are rightfully concerned that the IRS opens the tax filing season Monday with a backlog but the agency and its workforce are depending on Congress to help them resolve the issue, NTEU National President Tony Reardon said.   “It’s fine to give Americans tips on how to speed up their refunds, but we have one big tip for Congress: Give ...

There were all intercepted and restricted from entering the country by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last year—and they were included in the agency’s top-10 list of agriculture seizures in 2021. These finds range from the ordinary (peppers from Guatemala with fraudulent paperwork) to the outrageous (poultry wrapped in stockings inside a purse). Check out ...

Chairwoman Barragan, Ranking Member Higgins, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today. As National President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), I have the honor of leading a union that represents over 29,000 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) ...

Washington D.C. – Persistent staffing shortages and the global pandemic are taking a toll on the frontline Customs and Border Protection employees who work at the nation’s ports of entry, NTEU National President Tony Reardon told Congress today. “Improving security, trade, and travel, and ensuring the safest possible working environment for CBP personnel ...

Washington D.C. – Federal employees would receive an average 5.1 percent pay increase next year under legislation introduced today in the House and Senate and endorsed by the National Treasury Employees Union.    The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, sponsored by Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, is essential to ...

Washington D.C. – Death benefits for federal employees killed on the job would increase under bipartisan legislation introduced Tuesday and endorsed by the National Treasury Employees Union.    The Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act would raise the benefit for survivors from $10,000 to $100,000, bringing it more in line with benefits for ...

One of the most important benefits you have at work is your NTEU contract. It is a binding legal document that outlines your rights as an employee and restrictions on what managers can do. It puts in place programs like telework and alternative work schedules, and provides key protections, like challenging performance reviews you believe are unfair.  As an ...

All NTEU members are part of a local NTEU chapter with experienced and trained officers (called stewards) ready to assist you. Whether you have a simple question or a complex problem, your NTEU representative will stand with you and for you. NTEU chapter leaders are your coworkers. They are in your workplace and understand your concerns and needs, and are ...

NTEU proudly represents federal employees in 34 federal agencies and departments. Everything we do on behalf of those we represent is driven by these 12 values: Active Internal and External Organizing Best Representation in the Federal Sector Good Stewards of Our Union’s Resources Innovative and ...

Every year, Congress make decisions about your work life: whether there will be a pay raise or a pay freeze; whether an agency sees budget cuts or increases; whether the federal health care program remains intact; whether federal work is done by federal employees or sent to a private contractor.  Our work on Capitol Hill pays off in big ...

Why a union? When you think of union members, you might not think of federal employees. But our members are lawyers, CPAs, IT experts, scientists, law enforcement officers and clerks in our federal government. Our union is a progressive organization that believes in good government and fights for the rights of every federal employee. We are part of the ...

Mark your calendar: January 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. April 16: First day of National Park Week August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act September 24: National Public Lands Day November 11: Veterans Day Before you go, check out the helpful online resources at NPS.gov to plan and prepare. There are maps, updated ...

Longtime NTEU leader Doreen Greenwald was elected to replace Bailey and finish out the term of office that runs through the union’s 2023 convention.    “Jim is a brilliant lawyer, a tireless advocate and a skilled negotiator who helped guide and grow our union through his leadership and dedication to our members,” said NTEU National President Tony ...

As part of his budget request, Biden proposed giving civilian federal employees an average pay increase of 2.7 percent raise in 2022, split between a 2.2 percent across-the-board raise and an average 0.5 percent increase in locality pay. The Office of Personnel Management has issued new pay tables incorporating the pay raise at every level of the General ...

HHS wants to want to eliminate AWS, telework, performance awards, transit subsidies and many other negotiated rights and benefits that employees currently enjoy. Today it is HHS. Tomorrow it could be your agency. NTEU is calling on all our members, governmentwide, to get involved this Friday during NTEU’s ‘Shame on HHS’ Day. On Friday morning, NTEU ...

Earlier today, President Biden signed it into law. NTEU is pleased that congressional leaders were able to reach an agreement to address the debt limit and protect the full faith and credit of the country. Yesterday, the Senate passed the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act providing all federal workers with two weeks of paid bereavement leave for the ...

Employees may be eligible for a grant of up to $1,000 to help with temporary lodging, major home repairs not covered by insurance, and replacement beds. Those impacted can apply for help through the NTEU Disaster Fund, administered through the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, online.

The provision, which NTEU endorsed, is contained in the bipartisan compromise version of the National Defense Authorization Act and is expected to pass the Senate.    The bereavement leave would give civilian federal workers and military servicemembers up to 14 days of paid leave in the event of the death of their child.    The bill would also restore, ...

The legislation, which has passed the House and awaits action by the Senate, envisions an IRS that has the people and the technology to keep pace with the increasing volume and complexity of taxpayer inquiries.  “The Build Back Better’s focus on customer service will revolutionize the relationship between taxpayers and the IRS,” NTEU National President Tony ...

The current CR expires tonight. The legislation now moves to the president’s desk and he is expected to sign it and avoid a disruption in government services. While avoiding a government shutdown is good news, NTEU will push for Congress to approve full-year appropriations for fiscal year 2022 so agencies can be fully funded. 

The bill needs to pass the House and Senate before midnight Friday to ensure no lapse in appropriations and no government shutdown.    NTEU members have been contacting their members of Congress urging them to resolve any outstanding issues and pass the CR as soon as possible. The CR would give Congress more time to reach a longer-term spending agreement that ...

The CR must be signed into law before midnight Friday to avoid a government shutdown. If the Senate agrees on an expedited schedule, the CR could pass quickly and prevent a lapse in appropriations. Despite assurances from Senate Republican leadership that a shutdown will be avoided, it remains possible that a handful of Senate Republicans could force a ...

In written testimony provided to the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, Reardon provided detailed recommendations for attracting and retaining federal employees as agencies prepare to reopen federal facilities to all workers and look ahead to the future of federal work.   “While flexible work schedules and expanded telework and ...

A group of Senate Republicans that objects to the government’s vaccination policies for private sector employers is threatening to delay any new CR in protest. A second CR is necessary to temporarily extend government funding and provide Congress more time to negotiate a longer-term spending agreement for the rest of the 2022 fiscal year.  The House was ...

Chairman Connolly, Ranking Member Hice and members of the House Subcommittee on Government Operations, thank you for the opportunity to share the thoughts of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) on how the government can build and support an effective workforce for the future. As National President of NTEU, which represents 150,000 federal workers in ...

Nominations are now being accepted for the annual Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, or ‘Sammies’. Hosted by the Partnership for Public Service, the awards celebrate federal employees who have made a significant impact through their public service. You can read more about the 2021 winners and their work here. The deadline for nominations is ...

The chapter rented out two different theaters in different parts of town to accommodate as many members as possible. At each theater, the chapter provided popcorn and other snacks for guests. Every member left with a restaurant gift card, wrapped gift and goodie bags for the kids. United Benefits was a sponsor of the event, and the chapter used proceeds from ...

Under the leadership of Chapter President Christie Saunders, Chapter 224 is developing strong professional relationships with agency leadership based on mutual respect and ample communication.    “We are goal-driven, said Saunders. “That goal is protecting our employees and their rights. We ask questions and talk through the issues. That way, we have a meeting ...

The blueprint outlines three goals for repairing damage done to the federal government and improving services for all Americans. They are: -Strengthening and empowering the federal workforce; -Delivering excellent federal services and improved customer experience for the American people; and -Improving the management of the business of government. The ...

Washington D.C. – After a decade of underfunding the nation’s tax system, the House of Representatives has approved legislation that will provide a dramatic and welcome infusion of resources into the Internal Revenue Service.  The House approval of the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) includes mandatory funding for the IRS of roughly $80 billion over the next ...

Starting in 2022, the contribution limit for TSP participants will increase to $20,500, up from $19,500 in 2021. The IRS also announced that the so-called catch-up contribution for those age 50 and older remains unchanged at $6,000. Employees 50 or older can add another $6,000 a year to their TSP, allowing them to go above the annual limit because they are ...

Veterans Day is the last of six fee-free days in 2021. The National Park Service offers this list, by state, of parks that are waiving their entrance fees. Hundreds of other parks, monuments, trails and sites managed by the NPS are free every day.  The entrance fee waiver does not cover activity fees such as camping, boat launches, transportation or ...

The Task Force earlier this year ordered agencies to provide the leave for family members’ vaccinations, and has now clarified that the policy includes children aged 5 to 11 who last week became eligible for vaccination.  The policy allows up to four hours of leave per dose. Employees are advised to obtain advance approval from their supervisor to use the ...

Washington D.C. – The Build Back Better’s paid family leave plan is a life-changing benefit for American workers – including federal employees -- that would give them the ability to handle a temporary medical crisis without forfeiting income. “When a loved one is critically ill, the last thing workers need is to be forced to choose between their family and ...

Washington D.C. – The 10-year, $79 billion investment in the IRS within the Build Back Better plan would equip the agency with the people and the resources it needs to catch tax cheats, reduce the deficit and provide world-class customer service to American taxpayers.   “The National Treasury Employees Union strongly supports the financial commitment to ...

NTEU-endorsed legislation passed Congress to more effectively prosecute those who commit crimes against federal employees stationed in other countries. The Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act had unanimous, bipartisan support and now awaits President Biden’s signature. NTEU has added a new FAQ on administrative leave ...

Washington D.C. – The U.S. government could more easily prosecute those who commit crimes against federal employees stationed in other countries under legislation that passed Congress today and is endorsed by the National Treasury Employees Union.    The Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act was approved with unanimous, ...

Chapter 14 (IRS St. Louis) To accommodate employee schedules, Chapter 14 convened three Zoom meetings on a variety of workplace issues including employee pay, the paid parental leave program, telework and highlights of the new NTEU-IRS contract. More than 500 employees attended the meetings, which also covered changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness ...

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance that will give new and existing employees more information about their collective bargaining rights. Agencies are strongly encouraged to inform new employees and job applicants about whether they are eligible to join a union and provide information on how to join. As for current employees, agencies ...

It is hard to capture all the contributions you make but every American is aided by your work. Many in our country are unaware of all you do but NTEU is very aware. During Labor Recognition Week we take time to celebrate what you do and to say thank you. Thank you for being a federal employee. Thank you for focusing on your work during a distracting time. ...

Retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) will receive a 5.9 percent increase while those under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) will see their monthly pensions adjusted by 4.9 percent starting with January 2022 payments. This is the largest increase in nearly 40 years. The CSRS annual annuity increase is equal to the annual ...

While the agreement avoided a catastrophic default this month that could have threatened federal employee paychecks, the same potential crisis will resurface when the debt limit is reached again late this year or early next year. Separately, the continuing resolution now keeping the federal government open will expire Dec. 3, which means Congress will have two ...

This agreement avoids a catastrophic and unprecedented default caused by the U.S. running out of borrowing authority sometime around Oct. 18. A default could have delayed federal employee paychecks and interrupted countless other federal spending programs.  However, the short-term deal now pushes the default deadline into December, where it may coincide with ...

In other words, previously disqualified loan payments can now be counted toward forgiveness. NTEU has long been a strong voice calling for better management of the program and loan forgiveness for public sector employees who have served for 10 years or more. This summer, hundreds of NTEU members joined with a coalition of organizations to urge the Biden ...

The continuing resolution passed with bipartisan support. President Biden is expected to sign it into law well before the midnight deadline and avoid a lapse in appropriations, which would have interrupted your pay and disrupted important taxpayer services. NTEU is also pleased to report that Congress included money for Customs and Border Protection to ...

Once the CR is approved by the Senate, it goes to the House for consideration. As long as the president signs it by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday night, there will be no lapse in appropriations and the government will remain open. There are indications that the CR will have bipartisan support now that Congress has agreed to address the debt limit in separate ...

Washington D.C. – Federal employees and retirees on average will pay 3.8 percent more for health insurance in 2022, a lower price increase than last year but still a noticeable cut to take-home pay for federal employees around the country.  Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) enrollees who purchase health insurance for themselves and their ...

The CR passed the House last week, but the measure failed in the Senate largely along party lines. Senate Republicans object to the provision in the CR that would suspend the debt limit through December of 2022. There are now just days left before the end of the fiscal year and NTEU is urging Congress to take action to prevent a government shutdown on Friday ...

Washington D.C. – The end of the fiscal year is fast approaching which brings anxiety for federal employees who are concerned that a stalemate over new spending bills and increasing the debt limit could lead to a government shutdown and trigger a broader financial crisis.      Members of the National Treasury Employees Union around the country are urging their ...

Passing the continuing resolution would avoid a shutdown on Oct. 1, but Congress would still need to provide full-year funding for agencies or pass another CR by Dec. 3. To date, the House has passed 9 of the 12 appropriations bills, while the Senate has not passed any. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen informed Congress that the federal government would run ...

Washington D.C. – Greg O’Duden, whose exemplary 39-year career protecting and expanding federal employee rights had a profound impact on American labor law, will retire as NTEU General Counsel, effective Sept. 30.    O’Duden joined NTEU in 1982 as assistant counsel and has been General Counsel since 1988. During that time, he successfully argued countless ...

Washington D.C. – The National Treasury Employees Union welcomes the new policy requiring foreign nationals flying to the U.S. to be vaccinated, a step toward making the workplace safer for the federal employees who process them at the airports. NTEU, which represents about 29,000 Customs and Border Protection employees at the ports, also has urged the ...

Washington D.C. – The National Treasury Employees Union today urged a federal appeals court to reject a 2020 decision from the Federal Labor Relations Authority that broke with longstanding precedent and gave agency management an unfair advantage in contract negotiations.  “The new FLRA policy wrongly opens the door for agencies to unilaterally impose ...

The winners will each receive $5,000 through the NTEU-FEEA Scholarship program in addition to awards made by FEEA. Eniola Ayo-Gbenjo is one of this year’s recipients who demonstrates a strong desire to follow in her parents’ footsteps by proudly serving her community. Ayo-Gbenjo plans to attend medical school and become a doctor who helps bridge disparities ...

Many of us still remember where we were, what we were doing and how we felt on that sunny day 20 years ago that quickly turned so tragic. Thousands of people never came home—the innocent victims and those who bravely sacrificed their lives in rescue efforts.  While I remember that day with a heavy heart, I also feel tremendous pride in the spirit that emerged ...

It was an honor to attend and represent NTEU and all of our members. President Biden spoke about the life-changing impacts that the labor movement has had for all employees, including stronger pay and benefits, increased dignity and respect at work and essential workplace protections. The President emphasized his commitment to labor and unions.  During his ...

Frontline CBP employees around the world and domestically, along with the Department of Defense and the State Department personnel, are processing and vetting travelers who fled Kabul after the Taliban took control. Many CBP Officers volunteered for the overseas work. Meanwhile, TDYs are being lined up to support processing on the domestic side but in the ...