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Las Vegas, Nevada-In her first major address as National President of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), Colleen M. Kelley today pledged to continue on NTEU's long-time path of "using all of the tools available to us" to improve the lives of those represented by the nation's largest independent federal union.

The newly-elected NTEU National President emphasized to delegates to the union's 47th convention that NTEU has been, is and will be most successful "when we work together." She added that the "clear and decisive" choices and decisions delegates made at the four-day event "affirmed that where we are as a union is where we ought to be."

Men and women came to this convention as delegates from 21 agencies and 240 chapters, Kelley said. "We came as colleagues. We are leaving here as one--one voice, one union, united in our agreement on the direction for our future," the NTEU president added.

Kelley urged the continued best efforts of NTEU leaders at every level around the country in what she described as the "endless work to fight for dignity and respect" for federal employees," a battle she called "never quite finished." She told the more than 400 convention delegates that "we are a union ...our commitment to work together for all who we represent must always be our priority."

The new NTEU National President, who was elected on Tuesday from her position as National Executive Vice President, told delegates that "I believe we begin our march forward with the realization that our union must continue to grow" as the best way "to strengthen our voice."

NTEU is the nation's largest independent federal union, representing more than 155,000 employees in 21 agencies and departments, extending well beyond the Treasury Department.

Kelley singled out long-time NTEU President Robert M. Tobias, who did not seek reelection after 16 years as union president, as the key reason why NTEU is now able "to honor our past, celebrate our achievements and begin our journey to meet the challenges ahead."

She called Tobias "a great leader, a great mentor, and a great friend," noting that he had "forever altered labor-management relations in the public sector."

There is "not a single federal employees who has not benefited from your energy, your efforts, your commitment and your achievements," she said about the outgoing NTEU leader.

The new National President is joined in leading NTEU by newly-elected National Executive Vice President Frank Ferris, who had been NTEU Director of Negotiations.