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In 2022, the Internal Revenue Service launched its “Lifting Communities Up” initiative aimed at creating a more diverse workforce and providing federal job opportunities and economic growth in underserved communities outside of Washington, D.C.
When the initiative expanded to the Mississippi Delta area, Chapter 13 (IRS Mississippi) President Tonja Johnson was immediately supportive, but she noticed it was missing something: the voices of IRS employees and members of the community.
Johnson, who happens to be both, presented IRS management with concrete ways to make the initiative more successful in the Mississippi Delta area and boost employee retention. She provided examples of how the IRS could overcome cultural barriers to recruiting in the community. And for existing IRS employees, management needed to address workplace safety concerns along with ineffective and inexperienced managers. What’s more, employees lacked the basic tools and resources needed for their jobs.
Months passed and management stayed the course. In the meantime, Johnson continued to hear concerns from her members. After seeing the issues firsthand, Johnson got in her car and drove three hours to Rep. Bennie Thompson’s (D-Miss.) office. At Johnson’s insistence, Rep. Thompson invited Werfel to visit Mississippi and the commissioner accepted.
“Tonja was relentless in her efforts to make Commission Werfel’s visit happen,” said National President Doreen Greenwald. “She is a fierce advocate for the employees she represents and her community—and she doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
The commissioner visited the facilities in Greenville and Clarksdale and spoke face-to-face with employees about their concerns. And Johnson finally had the chance to share her suggestions directly with Werfel.
The result: Johnson is beginning to see positive changes in how the agency is implementing the initiative and receives regular briefings from the IRS.
“There’s now a true partnership between local management and NTEU,” Johnson said.
Based on the success of the initiative in Clarksdale, the IRS has already expanded its operations there. The IRS office, which is being renovated, is generating millions to the area through salaries and benefits and growing by more than 40 new employees this fall.
Top photo: Chapter 13 (IRS Mississippi) President Tonja Johnson, far right, was instrumental in getting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, center, and Rep. Bennie Thompson, second from left, to visit the IRS’ Delta Initiative and incorporate employees’ voices into the process.
Bottom photo: IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, Rep. Bennie Thompson (center), and Chapter 13 President Tonja Johnson sit down together to discuss the issues.