Internal NFFE News
August 31, 2023
Last week, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) participated in the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Unity and Growth Conference in San Diego, California. The conference focused on training, educating, and inspiring IAM and NFFE officers, staff, activists, and other leaders to organize new members in all sectors while embracing and strengthening the diversity of the union.
The first day covered current organizing campaigns in the IAM’s healthcare and air transport sectors, as well as NFFE milestones and strategies for internal growth within the federal sector. During this session, NFFE National Business Representative Jerry McCarty joined a panel with IAM Organizing Director Vinny Addeo, where the panel focused on the keys to NFFE’s success in organizing 1,000 new members in the past year and organizing goals moving forward.
The panel discussed which agencies and federal locals to target for internal organizing, how to establish and enhance local leadership, and strategies to improve the relationships between management, local officers, and bargaining unit employees. Part of this effort includes the IAM increasing the size of the organizing department and deploying additional staff on NFFE organizing campaigns across the country.
NFFE staff also had the opportunity to collaborate with IAM staff that represent not only federal workers, but state and local government employees. These breakout sessions allowed for the exchange of ideas and best practices on how to successfully organize and best represent government workers.
“The Unity and Growth conference was highly productive, and I look forward to further collaborating with the IAM Organizing Department to build upon the accomplishments that NFFE has had in growing our union,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “The success of our union in legislative efforts and at the bargaining table is directly dependent on the collective strength we have through each dues paying member. NFFE is winning the fight to improve pay, benefits, and working conditions for federal employees because of the commitment of our membership and staff to growing our union.”