We are engineers, architects, planners, accountants, auditors, computer programmers, chemists, building, housing and fire inspectors and advisors, health professionals, managerial and administrative employees and other related professionals. Our skills are a vital contribution to the smooth planning and implementation of local government services, whether it is orchestrating large-scale bond programs for infrastructure and maintenance, ensuring well-run transit systems, or monitoring quality control over the public water supply.

Hard work, diligence, and self-reliance is not enough to ensure orderly career advancement. Publicly employed professionals are frequently subjected to to the vagaries of political whims and outside interest groups.

As professionals working within the public personnel systems, we need a union to ensure our skills and integrity are protected and respected. Through our union we are able to utilize sophisticated strategies and guarantee that we receive recognition for high level performance.

Professionals working in civil service need the security of union representation. The union contract can protect us from politicians who try to give away our work - projects we are fully qualified for and entitled to perform.

No matter who carries out the work, we are still responsible for the results and must account for all problems which arise. IFPTE understands the pressures brought to bear on employed professionals.

We are experts in our work and bring this sophisticated knowledge to the bargaining table.
Collective bargaining is a recognized method of participating in the democratic process and management of our work. Collective bargaining can protect us from having to compromise our professional judgement and ethical codes for engineering, scientific, and other professionals.

Our interests are the public's interest. The public has a stake in well-run government.