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Workforce Wonk

By Alyah Khan

Blog archive

Union launches campaign in defense of feds

Several proposals aimed at reducing the nation’s deficit have taken aim at the size and salaries of the federal workforce, and now federal employees are taking a formal stand against what they call “harmful attacks.”

The National Treasury Employees Union launched a public service campaign July 21 to highlight the services feds carry out each day.

“From guarding our borders to safeguarding the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink, to administering the school lunch program so children do not go hungry, federal employees perform so many critical tasks for our nation each and every day,” said Colleen Kelley, NTEU president. “And all too often, we take this dedicated and effective service for granted.”

The union’s campaign will include a set of radio and television public service announcements, media events, grassroots efforts by local chapters and social media activities. A new website created by NTEU – www.TheyWorkForUs.org – has further information on the campaign.

Kelly said that political discourse often casts feds in an “unfavorable light,” noting the push by some members of Congress to cut the federal workforce.

Debate over the debt ceiling has been feds’ most recent cause for concern.

Earlier this week, a coalition of more than 20 federal employee and management pressed senior administration officials for answers on how the federal workforce would be affected if Congress fails to raise the nation’s debt limit by Aug. 2 deadline.

Some experts have suggested that if Congress can’t reach an agreement on the debt ceiling by the start of next month, federal employees might face furloughs or holds on their salaries. (See related FCW story.)

Posted by Alyah Khan on Jul 22, 2011 at 9:56 AM


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Reader comments

Fri, Aug 12, 2011 Tman

Insurance is fine when your house burns down. It is not when your entire neighborhood burns down along with every avenue to employment or temporary housing. That is what FEMA is for.

Wed, Jul 27, 2011

About "Negative jobs": Private industry cannot be trusted to protect people that is why there are government agencies. Now unfortunately, corporations have warped the government with their special agendas.This is partly why there is a huge national debt. Remember when private industry had really decent benefits? Now, most people are forced into 401 Ks which are subject to the whims of the market. As long as corporations control the government, this country will continue its current downward slide.It may be time for a change on how government operates as well as removing lobbyists from the system. Just a thought.

Tue, Jul 26, 2011

Bottom line up front: The government is doing too many things that the private sector should be doing. Government employee (and government contractor) jobs are "negative" jobs. They don't "produce" things that generate exports, income, profit and taxes. Yes, they pay some taxes from their salaries, but those dollars first had to be confiscated from the taxpayer...so I look at their taxes as a rebate to the taxpayer from whom they were first confiscated. We need fewer of these negative jobs and more of the jobs that produce products that people (especially foreigners) will buy. Government worker pay is not that great, but the benefits and job security are way beyond what the average American must accept. I work in industry and the dead wood we shed each year seems to move from company to company until they find a government job from which they can't be removed. Back to the bottom line...we need to get the government out of doing things with negative jobs that the private sector can do with real productive jobs. I'm not against the government doing things, but they should be about the business of setting standards and inspecting things and let private industry provide the goods and services that must meet those standards and be subject to inspection. Greece is an example of what happens when you have too many government workers with excessive benefits for the number of taxpayers in the nation.

Tue, Jul 26, 2011 felisa san diego ca

Our congress is really ineffective, what they do mostly are politically motivated. They procrastinate in doing their most important task that is to serve the people for the good of our country. Congress does not act and make fair decisions, they are manipulators for their own benefits politically driven. It's always the Fed workers they use to somewhat solve their mistakes they made. Congress should be the first to get their salaries cut and not compromise the hard working Feds. Congress you better meet the Budget Deadlines. It's your Fault for not doing your jobs, such important as Budget. You always do that, wait for the last seconds to do your tasks, then punish the Fed workers because you're inefficient and lazy.We'll remember you Both parties on Election times. flb

Tue, Jul 26, 2011

The Union bosses are self-serving in this effort; without a large Federal workforce, there is no union membership to drain money from and line their own pockets.

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