TOPICS
TOPICS
Federal employee union launches public service campaign
The National Treasury Employees Union on Wednesday launched its first-ever public service campaign aimed at dispelling negative stereotypes and increasing the visibility of government work.
The "Federal Employees... They Work for U.S." campaign centers around television and radio public service announcements that describe the broad range of careers that can be pursued in the federal government. The advertisements, which have gone out to more than 600 television stations and 500 radio stations nationwide, are designed to raise awareness of federal work, specifically in areas outside the Beltway.
The campaign also includes a Web site, www.TheyWorkForUS.org, where public service directors and members of the public can go to learn more. That site has a link to USAJobs.gov, the government's official spot for job listings.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, NTEU President Colleen Kelley said the campaign could help recruitment efforts that are critical as the government confronts a wave of retirements expected during the next decade.
"This has been a labor of love for NTEU; it's been in progress for well over a year," Kelley said. "The [announcements] were designed with the effort to get the attention in a very short time frame of those who may never think once, much less twice, about the valuable work done by federal employees."
Kelley said while the military and Office of Personnel Management have recruited using TV advertising, the government still has failed to address the negative perceptions that often surround public service, especially during political campaign seasons. "This public service campaign will combat the negativism," she said.
NTEU did not work directly with OPM in launching the campaign, according to Kelley, but the union sent materials to agency heads so they could "incorporate it into what they are doing to build and support the federal workforce."
Meanwhile, members of NTEU's nearly 250 local chapters will be involved in grass-roots efforts to promote public service. Each chapter will receive a kit that has suggestions on how to educate people about federal work through brochures, speeches, print ads and other activities.
"Americans should be proud of the caliber of the people in this country who are called to public service," Kelley said. "They make up the most diverse, best-educated workforce in America, and they do it all for us, every day."
COMMENTS
- I find it interesting that a federal union would find it necessary to conduct a public service campaign on behalf of the CS employees who promote the importance of the federal government. Curious that the current administration has no need to promote the importance of the federal government. Perhaps in their "think tank" world the only federal government activities that exist are those that are performed by contractors (who by definition are expected to earn a hefty profit for attending to public tax payer financed services). Bill Snoggs Posted July 28, 2008 11:09 PM
- Seems that I have been on the cutting edge as this is something that I say to the callers of the 800 number all of the time. "I work for you, you pay my salary". As far as recruitment, I am ashamed of the promotions process. I have been in the OASIS for my achievements, have a regional commissioner citation, and I have 5 suggestion awards with more forthcoming. (No one else here does). I have been here for 23 years, and am only 42 years old. For some reason, I can't get promoted to save my life. Surely does not have anything to do with my work. I consistently make the so called "best qualified" list but to no avail. College students and relatives seem to beat me out hands down. None of which helps the retention process. Deborah Love Posted July 24, 2008 4:03 PM
- As the previous comments showed, there are indeed two animals being discussed here. 1. The government as an employer, And 2. The government employee. While, after 30 years of federal service, I must commend any organization that fights negative stereotyping of civil servants and our government; still, as the elected representatives of our working force, I think perhaps a better use of these funds would be to address the grass roots (and organizational) problems with NSPS implementation. Okay, my preference would be to do both and I have NO idea how you could do that. Still, I feel a desperate need to educate the next POTUS and the incoming and incumbent congressional representatives to fears of their workers and the pitfalls of straying from our meritocracy roots to a system based on nepotism, cronyism, and which survives only in shrouds of mystery and unquestionable tactics. Tip off Posted July 24, 2008 12:21 PM
