The following is a letter that NFFE National President Randy Erwin released today outlining some important changes to the 51st NFFE National Convention.
Dear NFFE-IAM Members:
I am writing today to inform you of some important updates regarding the 51st NFFE National Convention. A special National Executive Council (NEC) phone meeting was convened yesterday. In that meeting, the following decisions were made:
- The NEC, in recognition of the threat to the health and safety of the NFFE membership posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, approved a motion to cancel the face-to-face meeting currently scheduled to take place October 5-8, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas and instead to conduct the business of the 51st NFFE Convention by other means.
- The NEC approved a motion to direct the 51st NFFE Convention Election Committee to revise its rules to conduct the 51st NFFE Convention elections in 2020 by mail ballot for any contested positions.
- The NEC approved a motion to convene a virtual convention at 1:00 pm EST on October 5, 2020.
- The NEC approved a motion to delay consideration of Bylaws at the 51st NFFE Convention until such time as an in-person meeting of delegates can be safely scheduled.
While it is a disappointment that we will not be convening in-person in San Antonio, Texas this year, I was extremely pleased to see NFFE’s NEC act in unanimity on this matter. This Union puts the health and safety of its members first, and yesterday the leadership of this Union put that principle into action by cancelling the face-to-face meeting of delegates this October. I am also pleased that NFFE will move forward with the election of its national leaders in 2020. Unions are democracies, and the NEC’s decision to conduct a mail-ballot election in 2020 demonstrates a strong commitment to our democratic ideals.
NFFE’s 51st NFFE Convention Election Committee, Credentials Committee, and Bylaws Committee are working with NFFE Headquarters and the NEC to revise all guidance regarding Convention that has been impacted by the NEC’s decisions referenced above. We are working expeditiously to complete that work and get it to you in a timely manner.
Thank you for all you do. Be safe!
Fraternally,
Randy L. Erwin
National President
National Federation of Federal Employees