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Washington, D.C—In a letter offering her congratulations and calling for a prompt meeting with the newly-confirmed chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the leader of the union representing FDIC employees said she is confident that management and employees working together there “can develop a productive and cooperative relationship.”

The chairmanship of this financial regulatory agency, said President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) in her letter to new FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, provides “a significant opportunity to make real and needed improvements at the FDIC.”

Kelley added: “I do not believe FDIC faces any issues that cannot be solved if all parties are fully informed of the situation and working together toward the goals of the agency.”

Among the issues President Kelley said she would like to address with the new agency chair are “unfairness in the pay system; inappropriately contracted out work; and a reduction in the quality of bank examinations.” The NTEU leader added: “FDIC employees are also concerned about potential cuts to their health insurance and retirement benefits.”

FDIC is funded by fees collected from the financial services industry it regulates and NTEU negotiates pay and benefits on behalf of employees there. President Kelley described the FDIC workforce as “among the hardest working, most dedicated group of employees in the federal service.” She added: “They are committed to FDIC’s mission and maintain the highest levels of professionalism and integrity.”

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing some 150,000 federal workers in 30 agencies and departments, including more than 3,200 in the FDIC.