Due to the recent surge in COVID cases in passport centers and agencies around the country, the Union has sought support from Management to manage the risks. These proposals include returning to the flexible approach that had previously been implemented and had helped reduce the spread of COVID at offices for the past year and […]

As the end of the fiscal year starts to draw near, we felt it was time once again to touch on a couple of topics that seem to be hot button issues now. The first issue that we want to talk about is the recent topic of COVID vaccine attestation and issues wrapped around the […]

The NFFE 1998 national officers just received word from PMO that OMB and OPM are going to start requiring Vaccine Attestations from all DOS employees. This will most likely go live as early as tonight. The Union is in a tough spot here because though they are willing to bargain with us on this, they […]

  Dear brothers and sisters of NFFE Local 1998,   As we all know, there has been much to read in the news about Vaccinations for Federal Employees.  Even though it is becoming clearer every day that this is not a mandatory requirement, we feel it is important to make our stance known as NFFE1998.  […]

The Union was recently asked to comment on the current state of affairs in passports. Speaking for the Union, NFFE1998 President Lee Wentz addressed concerns regarding the current states of PPT as well as the ever-growing backlog of applications. The full article can be read here.

  By April of 2020, the Department of State complied with local lockdown orders and closed all passport agencies due to the threat of the COVID-19 Pandemic. All bargaining unit employees were placed on Weather and Safety Leave. Teleworking was not an option due to long standing State Department policy.  That all changed on June […]

As we celebrate America’s 245th birthday, NFFE 1998 remains committed to advocating for the rights of our bargaining unit employees and creating a safer, more equitable workplace for all in the land that was founded on the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.   Happy Fourth of July from NFFE 1998!