Forest Service Council

National Federation of Federal Employees
IAM / AFL-CIO

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Forest Service Council

National Federation of Federal Employees
IAM / AFL-CIO

Hold The Line! Fighting For Feds Resource Center

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Complete Our NFFE BUE Survey

Complete the NFFE Bargaining Unit Employee Impact & Priorities Survey - Initial Forest Service Reorganization Assessment .

The Union is conducting this initial survey to understand what bargaining unit employees (BUE) are experiencing, what impacts are expected, and which issues matter most at this early stage of negotiations over the proposed reorganization plan. You may receive additional surveys as needs emerge for more detailed information. Your responses help the Union identify priority bargaining topics and ensure we focus on the real impacts facing employees.

We Want to Hear From You!

April 15, 2026

Dear NFFE Bargaining Unit Employees,

The last few weeks have been a challenging time for all of us. Whether or not a bargaining unit employee, and whether or not directly impacted by the USDA proposed changes to the US Forest Service, we are all collectively affected by this announcement.

The NFFE Forest Service Council and union leaders across the country have been hard at work collaborating with our NFFE National Staff and affiliated IAM union resources, along with other allies in developing strategies for how to respond to the proposed changes.

With the help of our IAM Strategic Resources we have developed a NFFE Bargaining Unit Employee Impact & Priorities Survey - Initial Forest Service Reorganization Assessment for you to share with us what you are experiencing, what impacts you are expecting, and which issues matter most to you at this early stage of negotiations over the proposed reorganization plan. You may receive additional surveys as needs emerge for more detailed information. Your responses help the Union identify priority bargaining topics and ensure we focus on the real impacts facing employees. Your participation is voluntary, and honest feedback is encouraged. Please click the link above at your earliest convenience during work hours, and feel free to do so from a personal device if you would prefer.

For background information about negotiations and the bargaining process:

  • On March 31, the NFFE Forest Service Council (FSC) received the Article 11 Bargaining Notice from the Agency within an hour of the announcement nationally. As stated in our Master Agreement, the FSC has 28 days to respond. Management provided some initial proposals and basic information. The FSC is developing a list of questions that will be formulated into an official Union Information Request along with developing our bargaining interests. Our Negotiations Team will include our NFFE Legal Counsel and union leaders that represent the level of employees we are bargaining for at each stage or Phase of Negotiations. Phase 1 involves the National Capital Region’s bargaining unit employees (BUEs), both those proposed to remain in DC and proposed to relocate. Later, we will begin Phase 2 of Negotiations that involves the WO detached, Regional Office, and Research and Development BUEs.
  • I know there is also a high level of interest in our Return to Office Arbitration, so here is the latest update. On March 6, NFFE and the Agency had an Arbitration hearing on the Return to Office issue, unilaterally eliminating all telework agreements. The parties have agreed to submit closing briefs to the arbitrator by April 22nd . The arbitrator then has 30 days to reply with their decision. We have positive expectations due to other federal employee unions having won arbitrations on this issue in recent months, but there are no guarantees in the outcome.

Continue reading below my signature for more information on our union efforts regarding the US Forest Service Reorganization in a message delivered today from our NFFE National President Randy Erwin.

As a member of the National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW, you have access to some of the best consumer, financial and educational benefits the labor community has to offer. Along with the benefits bargained on your behalf by NFFE-IAM representatives in the workplace, you are also offered discounts on various consumer products and services, as well as educational opportunities for expanding your knowledge of labor history, issues, and practices.

Most importantly please take care of yourselves, your family and each other during these difficult times. Please do not make any major life altering decisions in response to the Reorganization announcement until more information is made clear and negotiations have been completed. Last year we lost many employees making decisions out of fear and misinformation. Please do not further that trend. HOLD THE LINE to stand up for the true mission of the agency – Caring for the Land and Serving the People.

In Solidarity,

Genny Kotyk
Forest Service Council President
National Federation of Federal Employees

From the NFFE President

April 15, 2026

Dear NFFE Members and BUEs,

On Tuesday, March 31, the NFFE Forest Service Council (NFFE-FSC) received formal Article 11 Notices on the USDA reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), shortly before the agency’s public announcement.

After carefully analyzing the proposal, NFFE views this action as a workforce disruption, designed to indirectly and illegally carry out a reduction-in-force (RIF), dismantle critical programs, and ultimately privatize the work of the USFS.

The so-called "realignment" affects approximately 6,500 USFS employees, requiring relocation to Salt Lake City, UT, or resignation.

The reorganization dismantles the Washington office, eliminates 9 regional offices, and establishes 15 state offices and 5 service centers. Research operations are heavily impacted, affecting 2,700 employees across 31 states and numerous experimental sites.

If this plan is carried out, the agency will lose its ability to effectively and safely combat wildfires, and to carry out its critical missions of research operations and maintenance of public lands.

NFFE will be working with the IAM Union, other affected unions, interest groups, local stakeholders, and communities across the country to fight this reckless plan, to safeguard the jobs of our members, and to ensure the mission of the USFS is carried out.

We will use a multi-pronged strategy, with the main focus on union negotiations, along with potential litigation, legislative and political pressure, and public communications.

We will be issuing a survey in the near future to better understand the impact of this reorganization on NFFE locals and to ensure the voices of our members are heard during negotiations, in discussions with Congress, and in the national media.

We have issued a legislative action alert (only access this link during personal time on a personal device) for everyone to contact their representatives in Congress. Please sign the letter today and share with your coworkers, family, and community.

We have multiple opportunities for you to share how this issue would impact your work and your community. We are coordinating video testimonials and connecting NFFE members with national, regional, and local media.

If you would like to provide testimony or want to serve as a point of contact for our media outreach, please contact Matt Dorsey at mdorsey@nffe.org.

Lastly, we cannot achieve a desirable outcome in our negotiations and in Congress without the support of dues-paying members. Thank you to our dedicated members who have already joined us in this fight.

Please sign up for NFFE email updates to receive future communications and please share this message with your USFS coworkers.

In solidarity,

Randy Erwin
National President
National Federation of Federal Employees, IAMAW, AFL-CIO

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