Home Media Center News Releases

Washington, D.C.-- More than 300 legislative activists from the nation's largest independent federal union will hear Vice President A1 Gore address issues of concern to them this morning on their second day of their annual legislative conference.

The Vice President is scheduled to address National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) legislative conference delegates at 11:30 a.m. NTEU represents more than 160,000 employees in 21 agencies and departments.

NTEU President Robert M. Tobias, who will introduce Vice President Gore, said delegates from NTEU chapters around the country spent yesterday and this morning meeting with their members of Congress on a variety of issues of concern to them. The meetings will continue this afternoon and this morning.

Among the issues on NTEU's legislative agenda for the 106' Congress, Tobias said, is the matter of the continuing gap between public and private sector pay. Those in public service continue to be paid substantially less than their private sector counterparts, despite a federal law designed to close the pay gap.

"Our people are continuing to keep that issue in front of their members of Congress," Tobias said, "and to make sure that their elected representatives fully understand the impact on them and their families of the government's failure to follow the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA)."

The other issues the chapter leaders are bringing to the attention of their legislators are the need for federal employees to have a voice in the continuing debate over possible changes in the Social Security System; the need to make child day care affordable in federal workplaces, particularly for employees in the lower pay grades; and concerns about continuing attacks on federal collective bargaining rights.

Yesterday, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking Democrat on the House Civil Service Subcommittee, spoke to delegates, as did Tobias and NTEU National Executive Vice President Colleen M. Kelley. Treasurer Secretary Robert Rubin, Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) joined with NTEU leaders and Customs Service officers in a vigil at the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial to honor those Customs employees killed in the line of duty.

Wednesday's speakers will include Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL), chairman of the House Civil Service Subcommittee, has been invited to the Wednesday session.