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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees today called on members of the House of Representatives to co-sponsor a resolution (H. Res. 388) to protect federal employees and their benefits from any further cuts.

In a letter to House members, President Colleen M. Kelley of the

National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said the resolution, introduced by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), rejects proposals that unfairly impact federal workers including those seeking greater retirement contributions, changing the formula for federal annuities, or turning the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program into a voucher program.

“As was made clear during the recent shutdown, federal employees do important work on which many Americans rely,” the NTEU leader wrote. “The 16-day shutdown was, hopefully, the final act in the disparaging of federal employees. This resolution can restore some of the pride in service that federal employees hold.”

Over the last several years, federal employee morale has greatly diminished, said President Kelley. Federal workers are in the third year of a three-year pay freeze. Many have served unpaid furlough days as a result of sequestration cuts and retirement contributions were increased this year for new hires.

In asking the members of the House to sign on as sponsors, Kelley stated, “You can show that you believe that federal employees should be held in high esteem and that federal employees are an important asset to this country.”

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