With a view to the betterment of the Federal service in general, and for the
promotion of the common welfare of government employees through cooperation
and organization, the National Federation of Federal Employees adopted their
first constitution on September 20, 1917.
NFFE's objective is to advance the social and economic welfare and education
of Federal employees and District of Columbia Municipal employees. This objective
is achieved through its continued work in the following areas: organizing units
of exclusive recognition made up of Federal employees and D.C. Municipal employees;
representing the interests of these employees through collective bargaining,
legislative action and other appropriate means; improving the working conditions
through constructive dealings with appropriate agencies; and promoting high
standards and greater efficiency in the various services of the United States.
The methods by which NFFE's objectives are achieved include the following: petitioning to Congress; creating and fostering public sentiment favorable to NFFE's position on proposed reforms; and negotiating, consulting and cooperating with Government officials and employees.
As a responsible organization of Government employees it shall take leadership in obtaining, through legislation or other means, the necessary machinery to ensure Federal employees have adequate protection against unfair, discriminatory action of Government.
-http://www.nffe.org/mission.html
The Oldest Union Representing Federal Employees
In 1917 NFFE was established at a convention in Washington, DC. Florence Ethridge
presented the resolution to form NFFE as an affiliate of the American Federation
of Labor (AFL). A week later AFL issued NFFE's charter.
Established in 1917, the National Federation of Federal Employees was the first
union in the United States to represent federal employees. Our first National
President was H.M. McLarin. He was succeeded by Luther C. Steward who served
as President for a remarkable 37 years.
President Warren G. Harding and the NFFE Executive Council on the White House lawn in 1921
For much of the 20th century, NFFE was the single biggest proponent of the
civil service merit system. Many privileges federal employees enjoy today have
come as a direct result of NFFE pioneering the cause. Retirement benefits and
the "equal pay for equal work" classification system are largely due
to NFFE's efforts.
NFFE was originally chartered under the American Federation of Labor (AFL),
but left it in 1931. In 1999, NFFE affiliated with the Machinists Union, making
us part of the AFL-CIO once again. For the last 85 years, NFFE has been working
hard to defend workers rights in the federal sector upholding our slogan: "We
Work for America Everyday."
-http://www.nffe.org/nffe-1917.html
| On May 18, 1900, (12 years after the birth of IAM) the International Assoc. of Machinists and the powerful National Metal Trades Association signed the first national agreement in the history of the American Labor movement. The agreement which included the 9- hour day. Although this historic step would not get into effect until a year after the signing, the long sought goal was finally on paper and signed by responsible representatives. The twentieth century was greeted by the promise of peaceful, collective bargaining in the nation’s most important industry and the attainment of a longsought objective America’s wage earners. But the battle had only begun.
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Despite injunctions and all the other weapons in the employer’s
well-stocked arsenal, the strikers remained undaunted. One by one, America
machine shops came to terms. Source: Winpisinger Education and Technology Center |