The passage of the Pendleton Act in 1883 did away with the political patronage in federal civil service positions. It stipulated that civil service positions in the federal government should be awarded based on merit and put in place a civil service examination.
The law followed the assassination of President James Garfield by a disgruntled job seeker. Patronage in federal jobs was the practice at the time.
The first exam was given to potential job seekers and Mary F. Hoyt was the second person, and first woman, to be appointed to a federal job. She was given her position because of the score she received on the test. Where in our federal government did she land?
Mary Hoyt was a clerk in the Treasury Department where she earned $900 per year.
March is Women’s History Month and NTEU is proud to recognize all the pioneering women who stepped up to serve in the government in years past. They helped shape our nation.
Women continue to be leaders throughout the government and leaders in our union. At every workplace where NTEU represents federal employees, we are committed to fair pay, fair treatment and workplace flexibilities that help women—and men—succeed.