Federal-employee unions have hailed the re-election of President Barack Obama over Republican challenger Mitt Romney. But despite the excitement, union leaders are tempering their expectations for a second term. National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley and J. David Cox, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told Federal News Radio their groups are ready to play an expanded role to deal with the budget deficit and alternatives to the sequestration cuts coming in January.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National President J. David Cox and Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten analyze Election Day results and the impact on federal employees. AFGE Legislative Representative Marilyn Park then addresses the importance of Veterans Day, while Federal Emergency Management Agency Local 4060 President Robert Autrey discusses FEMA's response in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
A collection of federal unions and watchdogs groups wrote to the House and Senate Armed Services Committee urging support for a law capping taxpayer-funded contracting compensation costs at $230, 700 — the maximum salary earned by the highest-paid federal employees.
The Veterans Affairs Department's National Cemetery Administration is testing the new employee appraisal system, called GEAR, to better define and measure employee performance. The Coast Guard also is preparing a pilot of the approached designed by the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National Council of Social Security Administration Field Operations Locals President Witold Skwierczynski responds to the agency's decision to reduce public office hours. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., discusses the danger of cutting public services while Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., shares ideas to encourage U.S. manufacturing. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokeswoman Nikki Fleming also appears.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Reps. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., address job creation ahead of Election Day. D.C. Labor FilmFest Director Chris Garlock and National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare Government Relations and Policy Director Dan Adcock also appear.
The service will offer $15,000 incentive that would be paid out over two installments to retirement-eligible employees.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" a congressional roundtable featuring Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Reps. Brad Miller of North Carolina, Tim Ryan of Ohio and Judy Chu of California discusses the state of middle class America and the public service sector. Former Obama White House communications advisor Corey Ealons also appears.
Federal News Radio asked seven different unions, organizations and government groups for their priorities in the upcoming administration. Their responses are part of the series, The Obama Impact: Evaluating the Last Four Years.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Council of Prison Locals President Dale Deshotel discusses a new GAO report about the impact of overcrowding in federal prisons. Also, more coverage from the Democratic National Convention with AFGE National President J. David Cox, Save the Children SVP Mark Shriver and former Clinton White House spokesman Bob Weiner.
Labor groups hoped to see more progress by now. But the administration has failed to live up to expectations about pay, benefits and government service.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" attendees of the Republican and Democratic national conventions discuss ways to rebuild the middle class and connect with voters. Featured Republican guests include Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Featured Democratic guests include Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy, Rep. Paul Tonko of New York and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
A federal union claims the Environmental Protection Agency fired two scientists for trying to organize a union at the EPA's National Exposure Research Lab in Athens, Ga.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Social Security Administration Council 220 President Witold Skwierczynski and Department of Housing and Urban Development Council 222 Executive Vice President Carolyn Federoff discuss the consequences of federal budget cuts. Former AFGE President Bobby Harnage also appears.
It's no secret Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney envisions broad changes to the federal government and its workforce. In campaign speeches, Romney has spoken of aligning federal pay with that of the private sector and reducing the federal workforce through attrition. But federal unions say Romney's comments and proposals should give feds pause. This story is part of Federal News Radio's special, week-long multimedia report, The Obama Impact: Evaluating the Last Four Years.