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Each fall, NTEU chapters nationwide commemorate Labor Recognition Week, a celebration of the role of our union in the lives of federal employees and the contributions of frontline federal employees. Here are some fun and creative ways chapters marked the occasion with their members:
Chapter 14 (IRS St. Louis)
To accommodate employee schedules, Chapter 14 convened three Zoom meetings on a variety of workplace issues including employee pay, the paid parental leave program, telework and highlights of the new NTEU-IRS contract. More than 500 employees attended the meetings, which also covered changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and an overview of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Chapter 85 (IRS Las Vegas)
Chapter 85 is taking its members out to the movies for a private screening of the latest Marvel film, "The Eternals,” complete with popcorn and prize drawings.
Chapter 97 (IRS Fresno Service Center)
Chapter 97 hosted a multi-pronged celebration across four different buildings covering two different shifts each day. Chapter leaders met with hundreds of members, providing prepaid meal cards, handing out union T-shirts, signing up new members and promoting NTEU’s Legislative Action Center. The chapter offered discounted admission tickets to the popular Big Fresno Fair, with more than 500 employees taking advantage of the savings.
Chapter 193 (IRS Puerto Rico)
This chapter planned a way to show their appreciation with an NTEU drive-thru. On a Sunday afternoon, chapter members distributed lunches at an outdoor location, and every member who stopped by was entered into a prize drawing.
Chapters 213 (DOE-Washington, D.C.) and 228 (DOE-Germantown, Md.)
This chapter hosted multiple events over the course of Labor Recognition Week. National Executive Vice President Jim Bailey presented a vaccine mandate update and spoke about the FY 2022 congressional budget. Other presentations included a legislative update and an overview of the new contract. Specialized lunch and learns were hosted on diversity, equality and inclusion, and reasonable accommodations on the vaccine mandate. More than 160 employees attended the sessions over the course of the week.
Chapter 340 (Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico)
NTEU’s newest chapter hosted members and their families (including their dogs) for an afternoon picnic at a local park in Santa Fe. National President Tony Reardon welcomed attendees via a special video message.
"It was incredible to see members who've never met before socialize and connect outside of the workplace.” said Chapter Vice President Lauren Leib.
IRS Southeast Regional Chapters
In early November, 14 IRS chapters from across the southeast region will join forces for a virtual lunch and learn with President Reardon and local leaders. Members have been invited to submit questions for President Reardon to answer at the event, which will also cover the new NTEU-IRS contract and vaccine mandate.