National Treasury Employees Union Applauds Obama Victory

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today applauded the re-election of President Barack Obama.

"NTEU supported the re-election of President Obama. He is the right leader for our country and for the dedicated members of the federal workforce," said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. "NTEU also is pleased that the majority of NTEU-supported candidates for the Senate and our staunchest supporters in the House won their races."

NTEU's efforts on behalf of President Obama and key candidates spanned the country. "NTEU has been working toward this victory since the beginning of the year and our members were involved in educating and organizing various types of activities around the country including candidate nights and volunteering for campaigns," said Kelley.

NTEU's efforts focused on battleground states where races for the presidency, Senate and House seats were competitive and where the union has substantial numbers of NTEU members including Virginia, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.

Unlike his opponent, Kelley said, the president is keenly aware of the risks to the effective delivery of government services posed by proposals to sharply reduce the federal workforce and cut federal agency budgets.

With Congress reconvening next week, NTEU will focus its immediate attention on the interests of federal employees as lawmakers prepare to address key financial issues, including avoiding sequestration.

NTEU will focus on securing appropriations bills that ensure sufficient agency resources, and continuing efforts to keep the work of the government in the hands of trained, accountable federal employees.

Most immediately is the issue of sequestration, tax cuts and related financial matters that make up the fiscal cliff. Proposals to address the cliff have the potential to adversely impact federal workers.

As a result of the current two-year pay freeze—continued through March in the CR—as well as increased pension contributions from new hires, federal workers are contributing more than $75 billion to deficit reduction over 10 years. That is far more than any other group, President Kelley said.

Moving forward, Kelley said "NTEU will look to the new Congress to find members on both sides of the aisle we can work with on issues critical to federal employees and that impact the public through the ability of government to provide vital services to the country."

The largest independent federal union, NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.

SOURCE National Treasury Employees Union