With the Supreme Court's overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act, same-sex spouses of both federal employees and military personnel will be eligible for the same benefits previously only available to opposite-sex couples.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Council of Prison Locals President Dale Deshotel addresses workplace safety concerns as assaults on staff continue in the Bureau of Prisons. California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski continues the workplace safety discussion while AFGE Department of Defense Local 2228 David Bamburg details the impact of federal employee furloughs at Ellsworth AFB.
A new commission, proposed by David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, would recommend ways to streamline government by removing duplication and extraneous spending from government agencies. Federal-employee unions criticized the proposal and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee lawmakers expressed skepticism that such a proposal could gain congressional approval.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Field Mobilization Director Tucker McDonald details the union's field mobilization plan in its fight against sequestration and federal employee furloughs. AFGE Department of Veterans Affairs Council 259 President Patrick Russell discusses efforts to prevent the closure of a VA hospital in Hot Springs, S.D. while Transportation Security Administration Local 778 Executive Vice President Bobby Newsome addresses challenges Transportation Security Officers face at the workplace.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" J. David Cox Sr., president of AFGE, urges furloughed federal employees to file appeals with the Merit Systems Protection Board while Field Services and Education Director Dave Cann discusses furlough resources available to members. AFGE Assistant General Counsel Matt Milledge addresses employee appeal rights and Defense Conference Chair Don Hale analyzes sequestration's impact on military readiness.
In the second phase of furloughs at the Environmental Protection Agency, employees are now looking at 23 furlough hours instead of 47.
The American Federal of Government Employees says the Housing and Urban Development Department's plan to reorganize to save costs runs counter to an agreement it has with the union over employee furloughs.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Environmental Protection Agency Local 704 member Elizabeth Lytle, a cancer survivor and disabled veteran, discusses the financial and emotional toll of being furloughed. Maryland Citizens Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco provides an update on Maryland's implementation of the Affordable Care Act while AFGE's Bill Fletcher Jr. discusses his book, "They're Bankrupting Us!: And 20 Other Myths about Unions".
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" the union recognizes federal nurses as it celebrates National Nurses Week. Guests include AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr., 8th District National Vice President Jane Nygaard, and representatives from the AFGE's Council of Prison Locals and National Veterans Affairs Council.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" EPA Council 238 President Chuck Orzehoskie and Defense Conference Vice Chair Patty Viers discuss the latest furlough developments at EPA and DOD while AFGE Legislative and Political Director Beth Moten highlights the union's legislative efforts to end furloughs. GovLoop Community Engagement Director Andrew Krzmarzick also appears.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC's "All In with Chris Hayes," discusses workplace safety issues and the value of public employees. GovLoop Community Engagement Director Andrew Krzmarzick and AFGE FAA Local 2282 President Greg Brooks address federal government furloughs while AFGE Small Business Administration Council 228 President Elaine Powell-Belnavis details the union's labor agreement with SBA.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" Bob Weiner, former Clinton White House spokesman, details sequestration's harmful effects on cancer research while Common Cause President and CEO and former Rep. Bob Edgar (D-Pa.) analyzes the president's budget proposal. AFGE Council 228 President Elaine Powell-Belnavis also discusses the union's labor agreement with the Small Business Administration.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" AFGE National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals President Witold Skwierczynski and National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare President Max Richtman voice opposition to President Obama's chained CPI budget proposal and its impact on seniors, veterans and federal employees. AFGE Public Policy Director Jacque Simon also analyzes proposed changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
This week on AFGE's "Inside Government" AFGE Defense Conference (DEFCON) Chair Don Hale analyzes the Defense Department's plan to reduce furlough days while newly elected 14th District National Vice President Eric Bunn discusses his top priorities. AFGE General Counsel David Borer details the union's latest legal victories and National Border Patrol Council Vice President Shawn Moran addresses sequestration's impact on border security.
AFGE's J. David Cox, and Federal Times Senior Writer Sean Reilly will talk about the impact of sequestration and the possiblity that federal workers will be furloughed. March 27, 2013