American Federation of Government Employees
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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.
December 18, 2013 -
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.
December 17, 2013 -
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.
December 06, 2013 -
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.
December 05, 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.
December 04, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" attendees of the union's recent National Veterans Affairs Council Convention discuss issues impacting veterans and workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Guests include Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, AFGE VA Local 1273 Vice President Travis Riggs and John Bradley, former senior staffer on the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees.
November 20, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National President J. David Cox Sr. proposes reforms at the Transportation Security Administration after last week's shooting at the Los Angeles International Airport. Rep. Donna Edwards (Md.) discusses upcoming budget battles on Capitol Hill, AFGE Federal Protective Service Local 918 President David Wright addresses training concerns with the FPS contractor workforce and DoD Local 2024 Chief Steward Donald Hands talks about ways to engage retired union members.
November 06, 2013 -
When House and Senate lawmakers kicked off formal budget negotiations this week for the first time since the government shutdown ended, both Republicans and Democrats said replacing sequestration, the blunt across-the-board budget cuts, with an alternative plan would be a top priority. The sticking point remains how to pay for it. Federal-employee unions and advocacy groups fear federal pay and benefits will once again be on the table.
October 31, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National Border Patrol Council Vice President Shawn Moran opposes a Customs and Border Protection proposal that would mandate the use of cameras in vehicles and on Border Patrol agents. Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund Communications and Development Director Robyn Kehoe details FEEA's efforts to help federal employees furloughed due to sequestration and the government shutdown. AFGE TSA Local 556 President Don Thomas and DoD Local 2516 President Paul Ferris also appear.
October 31, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Rep. John Sarbanes (Md.) looks back on the government shutdown and praises federal employees' commitment to public service while former Clinton White House spokesman Bob Weiner discusses what's next as new budget deadlines approach. AFGE Department of Defense Local 2077 President Jon Suminski and Executive Vice President Darold Hubbard also appear.
October 23, 2013 -
A tally totaling the costs of the government shutdown on the Defense Department only includes lost work-hours from civilian furloughs, not additional government costs from interest payments, contract delays or other impacts from the shutdown. AFGE and NTEU are asking agencies to speed up back pay to federal workers.
October 18, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Transportation Security Administration Local 1127 President George Stebbins and Department of Transportation Local 3313 VP Tyler Patterson discuss the union's future from AFGE's recent Leadership Conference. Working America North Carolina State Director Carolyn Smith and AFGE TSA Local 1127 member Jason Miller also appear from the recent North Carolina State AFL-CIO Convention.
October 16, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul discusses the government shutdown's impact on U.S. manufacturing. North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, retired AFGE SSA Local 3509 member Michael Gravinese and American Postal Workers Union Local 1078 member Louis Forrisi also appear from the recent North Carolina AFL-CIO Convention.
October 09, 2013 -
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" National President J. David Cox Sr. addresses the government shutdown and its impact on employees and public services. AFGE SSA Local 836 EVP Matt Perlinger discusses the importance of engaging younger union members and Professor Jeffrey Hilgert talks about his book, "Hazard or Hardship: Crafting Global Norms on the Right to Refuse Unsafe Work."
October 02, 2013 -
Lower chamber legislators could not get two-thirds approval for one bill to fund the National Park Service, and another bill to get the Veterans Affairs Department fiscal 2014 money. AFGE, NTEU and Democrat lawmakers rallied on Capitol Hill Tuesday to turn up the heat on Congress to reopen the government.
October 02, 2013