The Day that Was: A Recap of Day One of the NFFE National Convention
Tuesday, October 2, 2012(National Federation of Federal Employees)
Day one
of the 49th NFFE National Convention
is officially in the books, and the mood inside
the convention hall here in Portland, OR could
only be described as emotional. Packed with
speeches from labor leaders within and outside
of NFFE, the message of the day was clear:
there is strength in unity.
In
addition to addresses by National President
Dougan and National Secretary-Treasurer
Fenaughty, day one also featured speeches from
notable leaders such as Congresswoman Suzanne
Bonamici (D-OR), IAMAW International President
R. Thomas Buffenbarger, AFL-CIO Metal Trades
Dept. President Ron Ault, and NAGE National
President David Holway. The speeches covered a
wide array of topics, but the theme persisted
that workers and unions are always stronger
when they work together – especially in the
face of adversity.
“Today
we face one of the most hostile political,
media, and budgetary environments ever known,”
said Dougan. “Dozens of politicians seek to
build their careers up by tearing the federal
employee down; pundits propagate lies that we
are overpaid and underworked; and painful
budget cuts are set to fall squarely on the
backs of federal
employees.”
Continuing:
“As we
forge through this storm and take our lumps
where we must, we must not forget the struggles
of our forefathers and mothers. Where once they
had nothing, through hard work, dedication, and
a fierce belief in the virtue of collective
action, they created something bigger than
themselves. If we are to defend the basic
privileges they had fought so hard for, we must
channel their resolve and maintain the spirit
that tomorrow will always be a better day if we
work to make it so.”
In a fiery speech of his own, Metal Trades Dept. President Ault spoke passionately about the close working relationship between NFFE and other unions over the past several years. As partners on many federal boards, working groups, and labor alliances, NFFE and Metal Trades have focused our collective efforts on representing the interests of federal workers during this difficult period.
“In
these hard times, you need to focus on what is
real and what is important,” said Ault. “I
don’t have the resources to do it alone. NFFE
doesn’t have the resources to do it alone. It
is only through unity and a shared vision that
we can be successful.”
IAMAW
International President Buffenbarger echoed
this sentiment in his keynote address. He urged
delegates to speak up to the anti-union,
anti-federal employee pundits and members of
Congress spreading lies about the work we do
and the modest compensation we
receive.
“Federal
employees need not be ashamed of what they do,”
said Buffenbarger. “Be proud of what you do.
You give us a secure, civilized society for
everyone’s benefit. You are the people who make
America work!”
Buffenbarger continued by discussing the
looming threat of sequestration - $1.2 trillion
in automatic cuts to federal agency budgets
scheduled to begin on January 2, 2013. He
described it as a “sword dangling over the head
of every federal employee and government
contractor,” that had to be
stopped.
Rep.
Bonamici, a freshman Congresswoman from
Portland, OR. also called for an end to the
ceaseless targeting of federal workers by
certain members of Congress. Pointing to the
two-year federal pay freeze and substantial
cuts to retirement benefits, Bonamici told the
delegates that enough was
enough.
"Federal
employees have already sacrificed cuts in their
pay and benefits, and I'm not going to ask them
to bail us anymore out for a financial crisis
that they did not create."
Throughout the
entire first day of the Convention, the only
force to rival the passion of the speakers was
the roar of the delegates in attendance.
Representing members from across the country,
brothers and sisters from all walks of life
have come together in solidarity to do the work
of their union. As the speakers return to their
homes, and the Convention comes to an end in
just a few short days, the fire ignited in the
hearts of delegates will remain, bringing light
to all those seeking fairness and justice at
work.
There is no doubt that day one of the Convention was a smashing success. Stay tuned for our next update covering the comings and goings of day two of the 49th NFFE National Convention.
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