IFPTE Holds 13th Annual Legislative Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC
This week, almost 100 IFPTE leaders and activists came together to review the union’s legislative achievements, plot the course for the next year, and lobby key members of Congress on issues important to IFPTE members and their families. The conference spanned four days and included addresses from key Biden-Harris administration representatives, updates on recent programmatic and personnel changes at the AFL-CIO, and a meeting of the IFPTE’s Federal Caucus to discuss issues particular to that sector and its workers.
President Matt Biggs and Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson kicked off the conference with opening addresses about the success of IFPTE’s member engagement and advocacy programs, as well as outlining their vision for building on those successes in the future. “We have a lot to be proud of over the past two years,” said President Biggs. “We in the labor movement have seen once-in-a-generation advances for working families, and IFPTE has been at the table every step of the way to ensure that our union and our members benefit from a historic investment in our infrastructure, our energy supply and transmission systems, our manufacturing sector, and our environment.”
“It’s not a matter of if but when these federal initiatives will be felt at the local level,” added Secretary-Treasurer Henson. “This week, we ask you to carry the message to Capitol Hill that IFPTE was there to help pass these key pieces of legislation, and we are going to stay involved in the process every step of the way to make sure that promises of the press releases become a reality on the ground.”
As recent legislation passed by Congress includes bold, innovative commitments to addressing climate change and strengthening our nation’s energy security, a portion of the conference focused on IFPTE’s role in supporting both of those aims. Samantha Smith, AFL-CIO Strategic Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Jobs, discussed the critical role that clean nuclear energy will play in reducing energy-based carbon, as well as the opportunities it presents in repurposing infrastructure and re-employing workers in the coal industry.
John Laadt, US Department of Labor Advisor to the Secretary for Infrastructure and Climate Engagement, ensured IFPTE that his department is working with agencies throughout the Biden-Harris administration to ensure federal investments in energy and infrastructure will be spent in a way that creates opportunities for union workers and lifts communities that have traditionally not benefited from economic expansion.
Michael Wasser, Legislative Director for the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, also addressed the group, speaking to the growth of trade unionism within the public sector. “Our department has a long and productive relationship with IFPTE, and we know we can count on Matt and Gay to support the common interests of professional employees as we continue to aggressively organize workers in that sector.”
Attendees at the conference received in-depth briefings on the union’s legislative and administrative priorities from IFPTE Legislative Director Faraz Khan and AFL-CIO Advocacy Hub Director Bill Samuel. This overview covered a broad swath of subjects that impact every member of IFPTE, including those in the federal civil service, state and local government, the private sector, and the armed services. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and exchange ideas throughout the conference, and the week included a number of informal networking opportunities for the exchange of ideas and discussion of common challenges.
View Conference Photos (photo credit - Chris Langford Photography)