Letter from the President
FISE UPDATE
September 8th, 2021
Letter from the President
As I write this, I’m feeling hopeful. Many challenges face us as this pandemic continues (and old injustices and inequities persist), but we are standing at a point of great potential progress for our work, our professional voice, and the people we serve. There are opportunities before us to advocate and win the changes we have sought for a long time—from a better work/life balance…to the power to bargain effectively for our next contract…to safer, healthier schools and worksites.
In November 2020, as we all know, the Executive Orders of recent years were revoked. These orders had drastically limited the scope of bargaining and hampered our ability to function effectively as a union. With the revocation of these specific orders, we are free to negotiate our next contract with a focus on the issues that matter most to you and to the communities who count on us. (More on that later, when I recap some of the main results from our June 2021 survey.)
What’s more, for the first time ever, we have a Secretary of the Interior who is Native American. An enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, Secretary Debra Anne Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary and only the second to serve in the Cabinet. (She is also Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.) I cannot tell you how much this means to me, as a Native American woman, to see Sec Haaland at the helm. Sec. Haaland’s own heritage gives her unprecedented insight in this position—insight into Native American culture, history, and heritage, including the challenges and strengths of our communities.
Another cause for optimism and pride: Native Americans across the country are a vaccination “success story,” with a higher vaccination rate than any other major racial or ethnic group in the U.S. Polling shows that Native Americans clearly see vaccination as our responsibility to our community. Vital news on this front: On Sept. 2, the Department of the Interior announced that it will require staff and faculty at Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) facilities to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The policy includes the possible option of reasonable accommodations for educators who are unable to get vaccinated due to an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-covered disability or a Title VII-covered sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. Officials at BIE-operated schools will consider accommodation requests on an individualized basis.
I want to assure you that FISE was consulted on the creation and implementation of this new policy. And while we still believe the best way to increase vaccinations is through education and voluntary adoption, FISE and the AFT have also urged employers to work with unions on workplace vaccination policies, including how they’re implemented—so people who need to be vaccinated can get accommodations, so everyone has access to vaccines and time to get them, and so no one is penalized for medical or religious reasons. (Note the new mandate only applies to the Contract Educators, not to Title 5 employees.) See the full Secretarial Order here—and if you have questions or need help regarding how it affects you, please contact me at FISE : (505) 243-4088.
Finally, one more cause for feeling encouraged is that you, the people FISE represents and whose input is so crucial, are sharing your concerns and priorities through the significant response FISE received to our June 2021 “Return from Remote Work” survey. Here’s what the survey showed:
• A strong majority of both BIA-employed and BIE-employed respondents (57 percent for BIE/ 85 percent for BIA) are interested in policy changes that would expand the ability of employees to work remotely.
• BIA employees’ reasons for wanting additional opportunities for remote work included: The need to protect vulnerable family members and lessen community transmission of COVID-19; the higher productivity members have experienced with remote work; the cost-effectiveness of remote work for the employee, employer, and taxpayer; a better work/life balance; challenges with child/elder care; and the greater environmental sustainability of telework. While valuing the benefits of a return to in-person learning, BIE employees shared many of these concerns—as well as fears of school-based outbreaks, a recognition of the vulnerability of unvaccinated children, and the need for more collaborative reopening planning with tribal leaders and communities.
• Some of members’ biggest operational concerns about returning to worksites include: Concerns about the quality of safety mitigations (such as ventilation and sanitation); an inability to be sure of the vaccination status of other employees and visitors; a return of stress caused by employees who have experienced workplace bullying; and a potential lack of consistent masking and social distancing in the workplace.
• Overwhelmingly, members said e-mail is your preferred way for FISE to contact you. If you haven’t yet shared your non-work e-mail address with us, please do that so we can make sure you receive the latest information and updates. Just send your current personal (non-work) e-mail to Jackie Spencer at jspencer@fise-aft.org.
I felt a renewed awe, looking at the job titles survey respondents gave — from teachers to social workers to civil engineers to trust accounts administrators, just to name a few—and the far-flung places where we work, from Anchorage, Alaska, to Reston, Virginia. I am amazed at the scope of the work you do, the talents and expertise you bring to it, and the vital role FISE members play in our communities. The past months have shown just how important you are. (Click here for an interesting NPR piece, about BIA fire control work on the Warm Springs Reservation) We know that the coming months and years will bring old and new challenges. But one thing is sure: Our union stands ready to meet them—and to use to the fullest the new opportunities we now have to advocate for ourselves, our families, and the communities we represent.
85% of FISE members are affiliated with a federally recognized tribe. Some of the tribes include Cherokee, Chippewa, Navajo and Sioux.
Who We Are
FISE represents 5,380 employees in four bureaus housed in the Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Assistant Secretary/Indian Affairs (AS/IA), Bureau of Trust Fund Administration (BTFA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). There are 602 separate titles in our union covering 195 separate worksites in 21 states. Two examples of titles in our units are below.
Realty Specialists in the Bureau of Indian Affairs acquire, manage and dispose of property on behalf of DOI or Indian tribes, in conjunction with public land programs or water projects. Their work ensures that authorized uses of public land will be in compliance with laws and regulations. Home Living Assistants in the Bureau of Indian Education work with American Indian students in boarding schools instructing and guiding students during out-of-school hours. They are responsible for the safety and security of the dormitory.
Not a member yet? It’s easy to join! Together we can be a powerful voice for our professions and our work! Click here to get the membership application!
In Unity,
Sue Parton
President
Federation of Indian Service Employees/AFT
Member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma
(505) 243-4088