Working for America

   Over the last few months I’ve had the opportunity to go on the road and visit some of our Locals.  It is hard not to be impressed with the professionalism, dedication and devotion shown by the officers and members of these Locals in providing assistance to the employees they represent.

   The strength of our union lies with the membership of our Locals; the products and services they provide the American public though the agencies and departments for which they work impact the lives of everyone in this great nation.

   In early March, I made a trip to Texarkana, TX to visit Local 2189 at the Red River Army Depot.  The Depot’s work of rebuilding and refitting military vehicles shipped from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is crucial to protecting the men and women in uniform serving overseas and accomplishing the mission. Later that month, I was privileged to be invited to Montgomery, AL to meet with members of Local 1850, whose partnership council received a national award for labor relations.

   In late May, I was able to spend a week visiting some of our Locals in Southern California with NFFE National Business Representative Jan Thompson.  In Los Angeles, Santa Ana and San Diego we met with members of Local 1450, who work for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

   In San Diego, I was able to meet with two Locals, the first being NFFE Local 919, which represents many civilian workers at Camp Pendleton, a Marine base located north of the city. The second facility was Local 2096, representing Department of Navy employees at Naval Facilities, who are busy reinvigorating their Local and building a partnership forum with management.

   In late July, I traveled to Local 60 in Missoula, MT for the filming of the new IAM federal employees’ video at the Missoula Smoke Jumper Base. While in the area I also had the opportunity to meet with members at the Bitterroot National Forest, who were also being featured in the new video.

   It has been a great privilege to meet with so many of our members these past few months. No matter where they work or who they work for, our members continually dedicate themselves to getting the job done and the mission accomplished. You truly work for America every day.