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Washington, D.C.— Rep. Harold A. Ford Jr. (D-TN) knows that standing up for the collective bargaining rights of federal workers is a sure way to draw attacks from his opponents in the present political climate—but he intends to continue doing it anyhow, he told a gathering of National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) members.

“I will continue to stand up with you,” he said, “so long as you stand up for what is right for the people who need you.”

Rep. Ford, who is serving his fifth term in the House despite being only 35 years old, spoke to a luncheon meeting yesterday of 300 NTEU chapter leaders and activists, marking the end of the union’s annual three-day Legislative Conference.

The soft-spoken congressman represents thousands of federal workers in and around his Memphis-based district, including NTEU-represented employees in the Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Rep. Ford, who was introduced by NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley as “one of the hardest working, most effective members of Congress,” has been a staunch supporter of federal employees and their legislative issues throughout his career.

The collective bargaining, due process and appeal rights of NTEU-represented employees are under attack in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where the agency is seeking to impose a regressive, restrictive personnel system. NTEU has thus far been able to prevent implementation of the regulations, winning federal court decisions that enjoined DHS from moving ahead, and a second court ruling preserving the injunction.

The administration, however, has made clear it wants to move ahead to implement similar rules throughout the government —using the DHS model—via a legislative vehicle known as the Working for America Act (WFAA). NTEU’s strong opposition to WFAA was a central focus of the conference.

Rep. Ford is a member of the House Budget Committee and the Financial Services Committee; the latter body has jurisdiction over the financial regulatory agencies where NTEU is the collective bargaining representative, including the FDIC, OCC, Securities and Exchange Commission and National Credit Union Administration.

He reviewed the administration’s record, including its approach to the controversial port leasing proposal now under congressional scrutiny; the worsening budget deficit funded in large part by debt held by foreign banks and governments; the funding cuts in such critical areas as the student loan program; the continuing problems with the Medicare prescription drug program; and economic problems troubling Americans as represented by sharply-rising energy costs.

He accused the administration of a lack of competence and leadership, declaring that “you can’t be a superpower if you have to borrow” to pay for everything. And, he said, the administration is simply out of touch with ordinary Americans, asking about the present political leadership: “Who are these people and what world are they living in?”

“Congress should rise up and hold the president accountable,” he said.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing some 150,000 employees in 30 agencies and departments.