Unions
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Federal employees began learning Friday whether they'll be forced to stay home if the government shuts down next week. Supervisors were tasked with informally telling employees today whether they are classified as "essential" or "nonessential," according to several federal-employee unions briefed by the Obama administration. Congress is prepared to work through the weekend, but the clock is ticking down for lawmakers to agree on a funding bill keeping the lights on at agencies beyond Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
September 27, 2013 -
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says a Senate bill aiming to overhaul the Postal Service's financial structure by providing the agency more flexibility to price its products is a good first step. Donahoe has been calling on Congress to approve comprehensive postal reform for much of the last two years. In that time, the cash-strapped agency has posted losses of $20 billion and defaulted on more than $11 billion in payments to prefund retiree health care costs. USPS is set to default on a $5.6 billion payment due Sept. 30 payment, Donahoe said.
September 19, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" General Services Administration Local 2275 President John Garvey discusses efforts to end workplace discrimination while new Council of Prison Locals President Eric Young shares his top priorities going forward. Also, AFGE District 11 National Fair Practices Coordinator Ivan Weich responds to a layoff proposal at the Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake, Wash. and Department of Veterans Affairs Local 1988 EVP Geddes Scott advocates for more staffing at the VA.
September 16, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" four AFGE members discuss their commitment to federal service and challenges they face in the workplace. TSA Local 778 EVP Bobby Newsome, Council of Prison Locals National Fair Practices Coordinator Sandy Parr, VA Local 2241 Women's Coordinator Marva Newell and National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals Regional VP David Sheagley share their stories on the benefits and challenges of federal service.
September 04, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Wisconsin State Sen. Lena Taylor and AFGE Housing and Urban Development Council 222 President Eddie Eitches appear from the union's recent Human Rights Training Conference. Taylor discusses the importance of the labor movement while Eitches reveals negotiations with HUD management to reduce furlough days. Former Clinton White House spokesman also addresses the consequences of sequestration and AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. speaks out against furloughs during the union's protest in Pittsburgh, Pa.
August 29, 2013 -
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are not entitled to a key civil-service protection under a recent ruling by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington. Andres Grajales, deputy general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees who represented two federal employees in the case, said the ruling gives agencies a weapon against employees.
August 27, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" AFGE National Benefits Coordinator Mark Williams discusses new benefits available to AFGE members while Bob Hill of First Command Financial Services offers financial tips for furloughed federal employees. National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare President and CEO Max Richtman and Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale also appear.
August 14, 2013 -
The Department of Housing and Urban Development canceled its last two furlough days after its employee union agreed to drop a grievance over the agency's alleged violations of its earlier furlough agreement.
August 09, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Department of Defense Local 1708 President Bill McGuire talks about the impact of furloughs on the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point in Southport, N.C. AFGE National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals President Witold Skwierczynski discusses resolved outstanding articles from the union's contract agreement with SSA while Economic Policy Institute Economic Analyst David Cooper addresses the lingering effects of unemployment on the economic recovery.
July 25, 2013 -
The goal of the mentoring hub is to provide a one-stop shop and standardize, in many respects, how mentoring and knowledge sharing are done across the government. The first pilot focuses on human resources and problem solving. It includes a series of group mentoring events to share techniques for solving problems.
July 18, 2013 -
NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley applauded IRS' decision to cancel its July 22 furlough day, but she says that's not enough. July 17, 2013
July 17, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., voices his concern about federal employee furloughs and the long-term consequences of sequestration. AFGE Council of Prison Locals President Dale Deshotel describes life as a correctional officer in the Bureau of Prisons while Department of Defense Local 2077 President Jon Suminski discusses the consequences of furloughs at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan.
July 17, 2013 -
After an OSHA investigation found USPS electrical work violations, USPS agreed to agencywide changes in electrical work safety and training.
July 16, 2013 -
After two weeks of deliberation and analysis of agency resources, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has decided to cancel its second phase of furloughs.
July 12, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" AFGE Defense Conference Vice Chair Patty Viers and Marine Corps Council 240 President Brian Leonard discuss the impact of furloughs and how AFGE members can fight back. Members of AFGE's Department of Defense Local 2077 at the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan address the personal and professional toll of furloughs and sequestration while Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul makes the connection between U.S. manufacturing and national security.
July 10, 2013