Primarily located at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, NFFE Local 1031 officers spend untold hours on the road ensuring that NFFE-IAM members receive first-class representation in all of their needs. NFFE Local 1031 faces a unique challenge in maintaining a bargaining unit that has employees at Holloman Air Force Base, NM, the neighboring White Sands Missile Range, NM as well as Fort Bliss, TX.
In an effort to strengthen their position at the bargaining table with management, as well as upgrade the Local’s representational capabilities, Local 1031 sought to expand its membership through a series of recruiting drives. Local officials understood that the more dues-paying members a Local has (density), the better services it can provide. Recently, Local 1031 wrapped up their first of a series of planned recruitment events.
Supported by Southwest Business Representative Gary Johanson, Local 1031 hosted a lunch-and-learn event that drew strong attendance from bargaining unit employees and allowed the Local to distribute information about the benefits of joining NFFE, as well as providing updates on important local representational activities. But what Local officers found most important was the feedback received from bargaining unit employees about topics of concern, ranging from low pay adjustments over the years to the constant threat of a government shutdown (with the Local representing ~150 Non-Appropriated Fund Employees, NFFE’s recent legal work was noted).
Following strong turnout and constructive feedback from bargaining unit employees about future recruitment activities, Local 1031 intends on having at least two more recruitment events in the near future.
“We had a good turnout at this event, and we really learned a lot moving forward,” said NFFE Local 1031 President Jose Mercado. “We want to thank our Business Representative Gary Johanson for his assistance and we look forward to hosting more recruitment drives here in the near future. We know that more members equals more respect from management, so we are focused on sharing the countless benefits of being a dues-paying NFFE-IAM member.”
NFFE Local 1031 Officers From L to R: VP Mike Davis, President Jose Mercado,
S/T Kevin Joyce, R/S Barbara Broughton, Trustee James Wood