IFPTE Local 777 | Chicago USACE

Federal workers in Chicago feeling ‘emotionally exhausted’ from government shutdown Three workers who spoke with the Sun-Times said they haven’t been furloughed, but they’ve dealt with uncertainties and fragmented coordination since the federal government shut down Oct. 1.

📰 Our President of Local 777 in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Flyer with various union logos, stating “Government shutdown emergency rally: stand with federal workers” 10/8/25 at 12pm, Federal Plaza. 230 S Dearborn St, Chicago

If you’re in Chicago on Wednesday, stop by!

Notice of Privacy Because you are coming from a location (Virginia) covered by a Privacy Law, many of the features of TribLIVE.com, like videos and social media elements are disabled. If you wish to proceed to the…

Did you see our VP of the Pittsburgh District Chapter in the paper today? 💪🏻 Telling our stories is critical!

triblive.com/local/region...

Full letter here: storage.googleapis.com/fun-338-publ...

Federal Unionists Network - Shutdown Showdown press statement WASHINGTON, DC — A letter titled “No Bad Budget in Our Name” will be delivered today to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Through a private sign-on...

Local 777 is proud to have signed onto this letter, saying “No Bad Budget in Our Name!”

www.federalunionists.net/press/statem...

Today we delivered a petition signed by 51 workers in Chicago District demanding our management look out for our safety with ICE actions expected to escalate this weekend into next week. Great solidarity in ACTION!

Colin Smalley, President of IFPTE Local 777 in Chicago, joins us to talk about the ways federal workers are training to act as a union even while their union rights are being taken away from them by… Union Rights are Being Stripped from Federal Workers, but They Can Still Fight Back

A couple of media appearances for Local 777:

A discussion of organizing when our rights are under attack on The Valley Labor Report:
youtu.be/iGDRm7UaEyY?...

And a story we helped break to call attention to the ways the FLRA is abandoning federal workers:
www.huffpost.com/entry/federa...

Check out this webinar tonight with the Federal Unionists Network! Our own president Colin will be speaking about how we organize in this moment. Register here: actionnetwork.org/events/how-t...

Come hear our Local President speak on this webinar!

IFPTE International Files Unfair Labor Practice - Raises Alarm as Army, DOD Ignore NCR Obligations — IFPTE IFPTE filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of the Army after identifying over 30 instances where both the DoD and the Army have failed…

Our Union fighting for our rights at the national level:

The Trump Administration Is Trying to Silence Us | Opinion This administration isn't just breaking the law—it's breaking the system that's supposed to uphold it.

Our President standing on business:

www.newsweek.com/trump-admini...

OPM encourages telework for religious accommodations, following Supreme Court ruling OPM’s guidance offers some leeway to the Trump administration’s policy requiring most federal employees to work in the office full time.

Members: let a steward know if this applies to you! Your union can rep you in a reasonable accommodation request.

federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/20...

1️⃣ Our parent union’s petition for National Consultation Rights (WA-RP-23-0028)
2️⃣&3️⃣ Our petitions to overturn DoD’s “disapproval” of two negotiated agreements (0-NG-3742 and 0-NG-3743)
4️⃣ An Unfair Labor Practice charge to get information we need to defend against a suspension (CH-CA-25-0202)

The FLRA is deeply and completely broken. For those keeping track at home, the FLRA is currently (officially & deliberately) delaying any progress on 4 pending actions.

Apparently “nobody wants to work anymore” among the (politically appointed) members and regional directors of the FLRA!

Federal exodus imperils Trump’s permitting goals The Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department are losing permit writers and experts central to the president’s agenda.

In case you missed this in the USACE PR recap (where the AI classified the tone as “neutral”):

Fight ICE. Build the Union. It was the morning of June 9, and Genie Kastrup, president of Service Employees Local 1, stood in front of Chicago’s Daley Plaza and bellowed into a microphone. “What is happening right now is about…

👀 Local 777 in the newest article from Labor Notes!

labornotes.org/2025/07/figh...

We stand by our colleagues and union siblings… whistleblower retaliation is blatantly illegal and will be met with resistance.

✂️ CNC3 Coverage of 6/25/25 ICE-Out Picket & Oath Renewal 53 seconds · Clipped by IFPTE Local 777 · Original video "The Midday Newscast on CNC3" by CNC3 Television Prime

👀 look who got covered in international 🇹🇹 news:
youtube.com/clip/UgkxAhR...

[Colin here:] I am SO proud of the members who came out to our FIRST informational picket yesterday. We’re only building from here, and as Commissioner Vasquez said today, you were really brave to speak out publicly. Thanks for all you do!

Our members were proud to picket today to say it loud and clear: NO to ICE presence in our workplace! Glad to stand with our partners: @chicagolabor.bsky.social @fedworkersunited.bsky.social @lrc.ifpte777.org

Chicago federal workers use lunch hour to rally against ICE raids, citing safety Federal workers rallied Wednesday afternoon, demanding changes from Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Some awesome coverage of our informational picket with AFGE 704 and the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Federal Unionists Network:

abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...

Great turnout tonight at the FUN 🎉Happy Hour 🍸 in Chicago!

Union siblings from AFGE, IFPTE, NFFE, NTEU, News Guild, and CTU; and workers from USEPA, USACE, Railroad Retirement Board, FEMA, Jesse Brown VA, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

See you next time! (And tomorrow at the picket!)

Two exciting events this week! We are partnering with AFGE Local 704 and the Federal Unionists Network to host a happy hour on Tuesday, and OUR FIRST INFORMATIONAL PICKET on Wednesday at noon in Federal Plaza!

See you there - remember to hydrate and wear your union gear!

The caveat being, I don’t speak for everyone there; but I imagine folks will be friendly, if maybe a little skeptical or cautious.

Fine with me to have you there - I know there are lots of managers opposed to ✨ all this ✨

Join us and @704afge.bsky.social on Wednesday for a picket, and federal workers present will re-affirm our oath of office!

All ages and abilities welcome.

Flyer with the title “happy hour for federal unionists”, Tuesday June 24th, 5pm, Sterling Food Hall, 125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603. A tagline, “join your fellow federal workers” and logos of the Federal Unionists Network, IFPTE Local 777, and AFGE. A QR code labeled “RSVP.”

Mark your calendars!

Local 777, IFPTE - Leave Donation Solidarity in Action! This is a location to donate annual leave to members of our union in need. As a reminder - the federal government doesn't really have "short term disability insurance" like many ...

📣 We’ve got a new page to help our members in need: USACE folks, we’ve got a couple of members in need of leave donations! 🔗 www.ifpte777.org/leave-donation

Workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health help keep working people safe on the job.

But DOGE has fired thousands of NIOSH workers, putting working people across the country in jeopardy.

Reinstate them all NOW!

🧐