The Federal Managers Association is the oldest and largest management organization representing the interests of the nearly 200,000 managers, supervisors, and executives in the federal government. In 2013, we proudly celebrated FMA's 100th anniversary. Back in 1913, we began as the Quartermen-Leadingmen Association, with charter chapters in seven naval shipyards. The original goal was to counter the developing strength of trade unions in government.
With the sharp cutback of federal workers following World War I, the Association went into a brief decline. It was revived in the 1950s as the National Association of Supervisors. In 1978, the name was changed to the Federal Managers Association to reflect the group's growth in federal agencies beyond military establishments, and today about half of FMA's chapters are in non-Department of Defense agencies.
FMA's current membership includes all levels of supervisory personnel, from Wage Grade supervisors and General Schedule managers to members of the Senior Executive Service. Importantly, FMA also eagerly welcomes non-supervisory federal employees as Associate members. On behalf of our members, FMA has exerted influence on the development of Civil Service personnel policies. For instance, FMA is credited with winning establishment of the five-step pay system in the wage grade pay program.
FMA has safeguarded managers and supervisors' interests in the Federal Employees Retirement System. It successfully defeated a grading procedure for supervisors and managers developed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that was woefully inadequate. FMA was instrumental in obtaining Hatch Act reform, liberalizing the ability of federal workers to participate in the political process and in developing the Whistleblower Protection Act, which redesigned the Office of Special Counsel.
More recently, through the following legislation, FMA succeeded in improving benefits for feds, while also giving managers more tools to effectively and efficiently run their offices:
FERS Sick Leave Credit: Those enrolled in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) receive an average of at least $500 a year for applying unused sick leave towards their retirement plan. FMA was the driving force behind this legislation that rewards feds for responsible use of leave.
Paid Parental Leave: FMA supported the successful effort to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers (by birth, adoption, or foster) of a new child. This benefit took effect in October 2020.
Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act: Thanks to FMA, new feds with a service-connected disability begin their careers with 104 hours of additional sick leave to use for disability-related appointments and treatment during their first year as federal employees. In addition to the legislative action, FMA worked with rule makers at the Office of Personnel Management who drafted exemplary rules for implementation.
As the acknowledged representative of federal managers and supervisors, FMA is consulted on personnel issues by agency leadership, OPM and Congress. Similarly, local chapters of FMA are respected and consulted by executive leaders of government agencies and facilities.
FMA marked a milestone with the establishment in 1972 of a full-time National Office in Washington, D.C., staffed by professionals. In 1992, FMA bought its own building and moved the National headquarters to Alexandria, Virginia, located conveniently close to Capitol Hill, where our offices remain today.
FMA's leadership role within management was acknowledged by the Office of Personnel Management in 1986 when it certified to the Thrift Investment Board, that FMA was the professional organization which represented managers as defined under the Federal Employee Retirement Act. This certification gave FMA a statutory seat on the Employee Thrift Advisory Council – one of only two non-postal management organizations represented. In 1995, President Clinton appointed FMA to represent managers and supervisors on the National Partnership Council. FMA members also sit on agency and facility-level partnership councils. In 2009, President Obama appointed FMA to the National Council on Labor-Management Relations, the successor to the National Partnership Council.
The year 2013 marked another significant milestone as the Federal Managers Association celebrated its 100-year anniversary! Members participated in a centennial celebration in March during the 75th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar, which included a 100th Anniversary Gala at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., March 3-6, 2013.
Day in and day out, FMA is protecting its members’ benefits and pay, and ensuring their voices are heard in Washington, D.C., and across the country as our chapters support their members in a variety of agencies and departments.