Unions

• Union assists OPM workers affected by layoff – January 31, 2014

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Office of Personnel Management Local 32 President Charlretta McNeill discusses sequestration's role in Reduction-in-Force notices being sent to 356 OPM employees, and how the union has helped those workers. Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack, campaign strategist Ethan Rome and Tennessee Justice Center attorney Gordon Bonnyman highlight the latest Affordable Care Act developments from Families USA's Health Action 2014 Conference.

  Federal Insights

  January 29, 2014
• Former Rep. Patrick Murphy continues veteran advocacy – January 17, 2014 and January 24, 2013

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" former Rep. Patrick Murphy (Pa.) discusses his MSNBC program, "Taking the Hill with Patrick Murphy," to bring attention to veterans issues. AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten previews the union's Legislative and Grassroots Mobilization Conference Feb. 9 - 12 while Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul details the latest manufacturing jobs numbers. National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare's Web Phillips reacts to service reductions at SSA.

  Federal Insights

  January 15, 2014
• Report: Budget, training cuts put IRS ‘at risk’

  In an annual report to Congress, the National Taxpayer Advocate, Nina Olson, wrote that the IRS faces "unstable and chronic underfunding that puts at risk the IRS's ability to meet its current responsibilities, much less articulate and achieve the necessary transformation to an effective, modern tax agency."

  Budget

  January 10, 2014
• Officials cite progress in labor-management forums

  Federal-employee unions say they're having more of a voice in the agency decisionmaking process, thanks to a four-year-old directive from President Barack Obama calling for greater collaboration between labor groups and agency leadership. Despite a slow start last year, the creation of partnerships between federal-employee unions and agency leadership — known as labor-management forums — ramped up throughout the course of 2013, according to Bill Dougan, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees.

  Management

  January 08, 2014
• AFGE fights for safety improvements at Selfridge ANG Base – January 10, 2014

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" DoD Local 2077 President Jon Suminski details OSHA violations at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan while Witold Skwierczynski, president of AFGE's National Council of Social Security Administration Field Operations Locals, discusses service reductions and field office closures at SSA. Economic Policy Institute Research and Policy Director Josh Bivens also appears.

  Federal Insights

  January 08, 2014
• Memorable interviews from 2013 on “Inside Government” – January 3, 2014

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" the program revisits several memorable interviews from 2013. Guests include MSNBC's Chris Hayes and professor Jeffrey Hilgert, author of "Hazard or Hardship: Crafting Global Norms on the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work." AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. and Department of Defense Local 1345 Steward Tracy School also appear from an August furlough protest at the union's Human Rights Training Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa.

  Federal Insights

  December 26, 2013
• Self plus one and more

  AFGE's public policy director Jacqueline Simon explains why her organization is opposed to the self plus one plan, and Sean Reilly and Andy Medici from the Federal Times will discuss what's ahead for feds and retirees in 2014. December 18, 2013 (Encore presentations December 25, 2013 and January 1, 2014)

  Mike Causey

  December 18, 2013
• AFGE president previews union’s 2014 agenda – December 20, 2013 and December 27, 2013

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National President J. David Cox Sr. previews the union's 2014 agenda and Council of Prison Locals President Eric Young discusses the work environment inside the Federal Bureau of Prisons. AFGE Local 2778 Vice President John Adams addresses contracting out concerns at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

  Federal Insights

  December 18, 2013
• Pay gap between federal employees, private-sector workers continues to grow

  The gap in pay between federal employees and private-sector workers widened slightly this year, according to data presented at the annual meeting of the Federal Salary Council. On average, federal employees earn 35.37 percent less than their private-sector counterpart, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management and the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  Workforce

  December 17, 2013
• Cause, effect of DHS morale problems tied to leadership vacancies

  Despite progress in confirming a new secretary and deputy secretary, DHS still features a large number of officials in acting roles. Former Secretary Tom Ridge told lawmakers the department cannot build nor sustain a mission-focused culture with so many non-permanent positions. NTEU says pay freezes, budget cuts and the government shutdown are more to blame for low morale across DHS and the entire government.

  Management

  December 13, 2013
• AFGE, NTEU try to stave off changes to retirement benefits

  The two employee unions say lawmakers shouldn't make up for sequestration cuts by forcing federal employees to contribute more to their retirement. House and Senate legislators are working on a small-scale budget deal that reportedly includes a provision to alter federal retirement benefits.

  Budget

  December 06, 2013
• OFPP’s proposed increase in contractor salary cap upsets all

  The Office of Federal Procurement Policy issued a memo to agencies setting the new benchmark for reimbursable costs at $952,308, up from $763,029 in 2011 for certain contractor employee salaries. The contractor cap has increased 55 percent over the last four years. OFPP blames Congress for not acting to change the formula for calculating the annual increases.

  Management

  December 05, 2013
• AFGE members share front-line stories from the VA – December 6, 2013 and December 14, 2013

  This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" the union's members share their stories working on the front lines in the Department of Veterans Affairs. AFGE Local 903 Chief Steward Donald White and Local 1988 Executive Vice President Geddes Scott discuss fighting for equality for all employees and the personal connection caregivers feel toward patients in the VA. Rick Weidman, executive director for policy and government affairs at Vietnam Veterans of America, also appears to detail legislation designed to help veterans returning home from combat.

  Federal Insights

  December 04, 2013
• Mass-transit subsidy, once again, set to decline

  If Congress fails to act by the end of the year, a tax subsidy for commuters who use mass transit is set to drop from a maximum of $245 a month to $130. At the same time, fringe benefits for parking are set to rise to $250 a month starting in January. Two stand-alone measures in the House and Senate would restore parity between the parking and mass-transit subsidies

  Benefits

  November 26, 2013