Yesterday marked the beginning of 2010 Legislative Conference, as NFFE-IAM representatives from around the country descended on Washington, D.C. for the IAMAW’s annual legislative meeting.
Building on the legislative successes of 2009, NFFE-IAM members look to keep the ball rolling on some of their highest priorities in 2010. Among these priorities are the TSP annual leave investment bill, the Federal Employees Paid Parental leave Act, and the securing of full collective bargaining rights for Title 38 medical professionals at the VA.
“Legislative Conference is an opportunity for NFFE members to tell their elected officials firsthand what is important to labor and solicit support from Congress to work on those issues,” said NFFE National President William R. Dougan. “This type of face to face contact is what gets things done in Washington, and I look forward to our members contacting their elected representatives this week.”
Once each year, NFFE-IAM members gather for a week of rousing speeches by key leaders in Congress and labor, to discuss legislative strategies and spend time on Capitol Hill lobbying their elected officials. Over the years, hundreds of NFFE-IAM representatives, from Alaska to Florida and everywhere in between, have made the trip to Washington to talk issues face-to-face with their representatives in Congress.
Addressing the crowd of hundreds yesterday were IAM International President R. Thomas Buffenbarger, IAM General Vice President Richard Michalski, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, among others.
Attending the conference this week will be Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), as well as Representatives Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), and Betty Sutton (D-OH) among others. Lobby Week is being held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, and will continue through the morning of Thursday, May 13.