NTEU Elects 25-Year Veteran of the Union as President

Tony Reardon on Tuesday was elected the new national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, replacing long-time leader Colleen Kelley.

Reardon, who most recently served as the union’s national executive vice president, received 89 percent of the votes cast.

“I am honored and humbled by the confidence placed in me by NTEU delegates,” said Reardon, a 25-year veteran of the union. “I am committed to building on Colleen’s legacy and strengthening NTEU’s role as the voice of the federal workforce on Capitol Hill, at the agencies, in the media and in the courts.” Reardon beat out three other candidates – Eddie Walker, Daris Boggs, and Vicki Lightfoot – who also ran for NTEU president.

Reardon “believes strongly that federal employees deserve fair pay and a secure retirement, and is committed to ensuring they can rely on fair promotion and appraisal systems and have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs,” said a statement from the union.

NTEU delegates elected Jim Bailey to replace Reardon serve as national executive vice president.

Kelley led NTEU as president for 16 years, and counted among her accomplishments the creation of a flexible spending account for federal employees and enhanced law enforcement retirement benefits for Customs and Border Protection workers.

“Colleen has truly embodied the spirit and energy of organized labor in defending the rights and dignity of working men and women at a time of great challenges,” said House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. “During her national presidency, federal employees were targeted for pay freezes, furloughs, and increased pension contributions, and NTEU fought back and raised awareness of the important role federal employees play in keeping our nation safe and growing our economy.”

Kelley on Monday told union members to “keep doing what you do best” and to “keep accomplishing amazing things against great odds,” during a farewell speech in Hollywood, Florida. “Stay confident. Be proud and hold your head up high. Because you are part of a great institution,” she said.

Kelley is retiring on Aug. 13, and will return to her native Pittsburgh.

NTEU represents 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.