Dear CRS Employee:

On behalf of my fellow officers, the CREA Board of Governors and Stewards, I invite and encourage you to become a member of the Congressional Research Employee Association, the labor organization representing more than 535 employees here at CRS. We have been representing CRS workers since 1976 and have maintained a membership rate of between 60% and 70%, one of the highest rates in the Federal sector. CREA represents all workers in CRS– analysts, attorneys, bibliographers, clerical staff, computer specialists and technicians, librarians, messengers, etc.

Why is CREA so successful? It’s because we remain responsive to the needs and desires of our membership. CREA is your voice to the managers and administrators of CRS and the Library of Congress. CREA speaks up when decisions are being made with respect to the conditions of work. CREA is also your first line of defense in the event that a work-related problem develops. When CREA speaks, management listens; this is not likely to be the case if you speak independently.

As a member of CREA you would also be eligible for a number of benefits including: discounted dental and vision care; no-cost accident insurance; free or discounted legal services; assistance in buying, selling or refinancing your home; and lower interest personal or consolidation loans. Participation in any of these money-saving programs would save an employee much more than spent in yearly membership dues.

CREA is a strong supporter of positive labor relations– anticipating problems and seeking their solutions in the spirit of cooperation rather than confrontation. This year continues to be a particularly busy one. We continue to negotiate a new Master Contract, which includes provisions for telework and credit hours; we will develop a new performance and promotion system for CRS; and we will participate and negotiate in changes that occur as the Library modernizes its Human Resources systems and procedures.

We need your help as we prepare to address these issues. CREA gains as new members bring new ideas and vitality into the organization. We hope that you join CREA so that you can contribute to these and other efforts, and feel the satisfaction of making CRS and the Library a better place to work.

Please contact the CREA office on 7-7636 or at crea@crs.loc.gov for membership information. CREA dues are highly reasonable and the lowest of any labor organization in the Library. For the dues at your grade and step please see the "2003 CREA Dues Structure" under Get to Know CREA.

For your convenience, the dues deduction form is available online at http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf1187.pdf. Fill in only blocks, 1, 2, 4, and 5 and sign and date at the bottom of the form. Then return it to the CREA office, LM 412, stop 7999.

Thanks for your consideration to join CREA.

Dennis Roth
President