Internal NFFE News
November 19, 2024
The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) is proud to share that Federal Local 1214 recently organized a new unit at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina with the Soldier Support Institute (SSI).
The action of filing with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), holding the election and seeing the SSI unit come to life was a joint effort between NFFE Business Rep. Chris Green, IAM Organizer Jerry McCarty, and NFFE Organizing Director Lemie Gillesania.
The organizing effort went into motion when Green and Gillesania visited Fort Jackson for a recruiting event late this summer after a non-union employee, Anita Boone, approached them about organizing a new unit for the Soldier Support Institute employees.
Boone said the purpose of the SSI is to “train, educate, and develop soldiers in human resources and finance” and that going forward, her goal is just for soldiers to receive the support they need and to “be treated fairly.”
NFFE National President Randy Erwin and Green counted the election ballots resulting in 26 “yes” votes and five “no” votes and the FLRA officially confirmed NFFE as the union representative. Local 1214 has roughly tripled in size this year, leaping from about 30 members to more than 100, and counting. Green and Gillesania say they hope to add additional units from Fort Jackson moving forward.
“I am really proud that the organizing success NFFE has had with Local 1214 throughout the year has translated into a new unit being added to the local,” said Erwin. “When workers see their colleagues joining the union and making a difference in the workplace, folks want to be a part of that effort. I am looking forward to seeing how the Soldier Support Institute employees will add value to Local 1214, and for new leaders like Ms. Boone to have a bigger impact at Ft. Jackson. Congratulations to this new NFFE unit.”