Elizabeth Coll, President

I currently work within the Enterprise Information Management Section in the Division of Information Technology (DIT). I have worked for the FDIC since 1976. My association with NTEU began in the early 1980’s. The headquarters chapter was organized by NTEU in the late 1970’s. Following a vote on April 24, 1980, with a 2 to 1 margin, bargaining unit employees, including myself, voted to have NTEU represent them in the workplace, on Capitol Hill and in the courts. My primary reason for joining at that time was because I wanted to support the union in representing my interests on Capitol Hill due to threats to the federal retirement system which had come under attack during the 1980 presidential campaign.

Since the very early 1980’s I have served as either a steward, Vice President or as Chief Steward – sometimes all at the same time. I am now serving in my third term as President of Chapter 207. I have helped negotiate major agreements that affect bargaining unit employees, including compensation agreements and term agreements along with a host of other changes here at FDIC headquarters. I have spoken before government committees. I have represented employees on many occasions when they are accused of improper conduct or failing to properly perform their tasks. I have learned many lessons about office politics and how the search for the truth can lead you to places you never anticipated and how revealing those occasions can be about people’s character – and I am not necessarily talking about the people I have represented.

I am married and have two children – teenagers! I am active in my community, and very active in working with national, state and local groups on federal employee issues and political groups that support those principles. I have made speeches before large audiences about the importance of the labor movement in protecting workers rights in the workplace. I have spoken about how necessary it is that an organization value their workforce not just by statements, but by deed and how the opposite approach is, frankly, deadly for the future of the organization. Management has the keen ability to determine that if it wants a bitter workforce it can create a bitter work environment.

No study shows that a unhappy workforce is a productive workforce. Hopefully someone who understands the principles of good, effective, fair and balanced leadership will determine that a new day needs to dawn and they will lead us back to the principles that were once exercised and once required at the FDIC.

I can only hope.

Martha Solt, Executive Vice President

I have been an Economist with FDIC/RTC for nearly 15 years and now serve in DIR working on bank policy issues. Earlier, as a confidential employee in my former division, I came to understand the personnel system and administrative procedures affecting FDIC employees. I am interested in effective worker representation.

As a steward, I developed new approaches for grievances, conducted research on performance matters, and recruited new members. I’m now involved in facing the more difficult challenges our Chapter is currently facing.

In addition to Chapter 207, I have served on two corporate boards. I volunteer as a tutor for learning disabled children and am active in several liberal causes. In my not-so-free time, I enjoy quilting and belong to a book club formed by FDIC employees.

I am married, with three children, and have a B.A. from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a graduate degree from University of Chicago. My husband is a mediator and former union lawyer.