Washington, DC – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) applauds Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kiran Ahuja for issuing three memoranda to all federal agencies that outline strategies to strengthen the federal workforce. The guidance is intended to help agencies implement policies within President Biden’s Executive Order on Worker Organizing and Empowerment issued last year. Many of the strategies announced today include approaches suggested by NFFE to OPM to support federal employees in their workplaces.
“NFFE is grateful to have a pro-union President who has proven time and again that the White House will support federal workers,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “We are thrilled that OPM has taken our requests into consideration as they implement President Biden’s executive order. These strategies will support not only our union members, but government employees across the board.”
The first memorandum highlights union rights to access and communicate with bargaining unit employees, which includes measures such as giving unions access to bulletin boards in agency space, providing them with employee contact info, and allowing officials to contact workers via agency email during non-duty time. The second memo directs agencies to ensure that union paperwork and dues are processed in a timely manner. The third memo affirms employee organizing rights by requiring agencies to train managers and supervisors to maintain neutrality during union organizing campaigns.
“Each of these memos instruct federal agencies to take action that further empowers government employees,” continued Erwin. “These strategies allow unions like NFFE to better communicate with our members and encourage employees to organize without interference from their bosses. The guidance issued today will go a long way to bolster the entire federal workforce. We look forward to building upon these positive steps to achieve the President’s vision for a strong federal workforce.”