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A New Way Forward

There is no question that organized labor in this country is under attack. These attacks have come at the very core of what it means to be a union – our right to collectively bargain. What started in Madison, Wisconsin has spread across this country as state and national politicians seek to vilify labor as the cause of their fiscal woes and make us pay through stripping our rights to bargain on behalf of the working men and women we represent.

This is the landscape we find ourselves in: one in which we must continue to build membership and work for change, or have our rights trampled. The easy path would be for us to become discouraged, hang our heads, and give up. But that is not what we are about, and that is not who we are. That is not our proud history.

At this moment in time, when the very worth and dignity in being an American worker is being called into question, we must continue to build membership and organize the unorganized. Our union’s very survival depends on our ability to grow and mentor future leaders. If we are unable or unwilling to grow, we will soon be out of business.

NFFE’s new Organizing and Recruiting Strategic Plan recognizes NFFE’s need to move from reacting to change to acting on change. To accomplish this will necessitate a fundamental shift in our thinking, requiring us to move from a “servicing model” to an “organizing model.” This is not about emphasizing building membership at the expense of servicing our members; it is about building highly-functioning locals, effective local leaders, and engaged members. It is fundamentally about gaining power for workers.

Building, supporting, and sustaining effective locals and councils is the only way we can be successful at building membership on a continuing basis. Collectively we all have a personal responsibility for the success or failure of our union.

Change will not happen overnight. But we must commit to begin this change if we are to sustain this union. Working together, this is our chance to build something greater than ourselves, and continue NFFE’s proud legacy of working for America every day.

William R. Dougan

SURVEY: NFFE Considering Retiree Program; Give Us Your Feedback!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

(National Federation of Federal Employees)

NFFE is considering the formation of a NFFE retirees program, and we would like to hear from you whether there is interest in this concept.

Please click here to take our survey and give us your input about what a NFFE retirement program should do.

A NFFE retiree program would be good thing for this union because many retired NFFE members want to remain connected with the union, but currently don’t have a program that keeps them as engaged as they would like to be. In fact, numerous retirees have contacted NFFE National in the last year inquiring about a retiree program in which they wish to participate. With more and more federal workers retiring every day, it is clear that now is the time – if ever – to put this program in place.

NFFE, and the federal employees we represent, could greatly benefit from a dedicated and active retiree network. Retirees have flexibilities that union officers and current employees simply do not and would be a tremendous asset to the federal workforce, both active and retired, if they can be engaged. The union at all levels is limited by scarce resources, which limits the number and scope of projects that can be taken on. However, an active group of retirees could be a game-changer that would allow the union to do far greater things in advocacy of current and retired federal workers.

At this point, NFFE is just doing a survey of interest in a hypothetical retirement program. The next steps would be to appoint a committee that would make decisions about what the NFFE retirees program will do and how the group will function. Although, some ideas being discussed already include:

Public relations (publicizing positive stories about the federal government and federal employees while correcting misinformation put out about federal workers)
Assisting NFFE locals with organizing and recruitment
Lobbying
Charity work
Supplemental benefits for NFFE retirees

We would like to know your thoughts and ideas about the prospect of a NFFE retiree program. Please click here to fill out this brief survey.

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