2007 Legislative Conference

HRSA Bargaining Unit Employees (BUEs):

The 2007 Legislative Conference has been a tremendous success in many respects!

We thought it wise to share with you some of the “hot bread and butter” priority 2007 issues that NTEU has presented to the United States Congress during the Legislative Conference.

Issues (not in any particular ranking order)
· Fair pay for Federal Employees
· Labor Management Partnerships in the Federal Government
· Privatization of Federal Jobs…Congress must repeal the IRS’ authority to contract out tax collection…
· Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP) and Health Care Affordability
· Department of Homeland Security Personnel Issues…Full Collective Bargaining and Civil Service rights for all DHS employees…
· Eliminate Unfair Social Security Offsets: The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

The opening session of the conference featured The Honorable Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Majority Leader, as keynote speaker, while the luncheon speaker at the closing session was The Honorable Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), member of Oversight & Government Reform and Ways & Means committees. Attached are two NTEU News Releases highlighting tidbits of information shared at the conference from Congressional leaders and NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.

We visited with several Congressional leaders and primary staffers on the Hill. This was a very pleasant experience. You’d bet!

As you are aware, we plan to have U.S. Senators and Representatives visit DHHS/HRSA and give presentations at our Mini-Informational Series seminars this year or as soon as possible.

If there are any questions regarding this message, please contact us at phone number 301-443-3377 or via email at nteuchapter272@hrsa.gov. The Union office is located in Room 13-94 PKLN BLDG.

With regards,
John T. Wulu, Jr., Ph.D.
Interim President, HHS-HRSA-NTEU Chapter 272