In Presidential Race, Both Sides Woo Federal Workers

Below is an excerpt from an article featured on www.wmau.org. Please click here to read the full article.

Government workforce a key vote in 2012 election

By: Matt Laslo

Virginia is one of the most hotly-contested states in this year’s presidential election, which makes political outreach to federal workers in the region all the more important. Some Democratic campaigns think they have the votes of most federal employees in the bag, but it’s more complicated than one might think.

There’s been no shortage of Republican rhetoric about shrinking the government — even eliminating entire agencies — during this year’s presidential race. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney epitomized the argument during a speech on the campaign trail after he won the Michigan GOP primary in February.

“I’m going to deliver on more jobs, less debt and smaller government,” Romney said. “We’re going to hear that day in and day out, more jobs, less debt and smaller government.”

It goes beyond rhetoric, though. Republican leaders want to extend a pay freeze for government employees and make them contribute 5 percent more to their pensions. These proposals haven’t gone unnoticed, especially by federal employee labor unions such as the American Federation of Government Employees.

Federal workforce feels like ‘an ATM’

Tom Webb, president of the AFGE Local 3615, sits down to talk presidential politics at the Juke Box Diner in Northern Virginia on a recent afternoon. He’s retired now, so he has time to sip coffee under the neon lights of this classic diner on a weekday afternoon.

The AFGE represents more than 600,000 federal workers, and many members are frustrated by Republican efforts to reduce compensation for federal employees, Webb says.

“We seem to be like an ATM machine for this Congress,” he says.

That’s been a recurring theme from Republicans. In Romney’s economic plan, the former Massachusetts Governor argues he can reduce the deficit by nearly $50 billion dollars by bringing federal compensation, including benefits, in line with the private sector.

Webb, who worked at the Social Security Administration for 38 years, bristles at some of what he’s heard from Romney about protecting taxpayer.

“Well we’re taxpayers too, you know, and we contribute to the economy,” Webb says.

Dems combatting fallout from Obama pay freezes

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who has represented Northern Virginia for more than two decades, acknowledges the federal workforce is more diverse than portrayed.

“Many people have the misimpression that virtually all federal employees vote Democratic. That’s not the case,” he says. “Now, blue-collar federal employees tend to vote Democratic.”

Click here to read the full article.

Hundreds rally in front of White House demanding an end to the discriminatory downgrade of VA employees

Hundreds of protestors packed Lafayette Square on Wednesday for AFGE’s rally against the discriminatory downgrade of VA employees. In an event that took activists from the steps of the Department of Veterans Affairs building to the shadow of the White House, protestors from more than 20 states marched and called for a moratorium on the arbitrary position downgrades, as well as the resignation of John Sepulveda, the assistant secretary for Human Resources and Administration for the Department of Veterans Affairs and head of labor-management relations. AFGE National President John Gage spoke about his dealings with the agency and trying to make his grievances known. He talked about how he was continually met with broken promises and outright “lies” from Sepulveda, resulting in the large crowd erupting in chants demanding Sepulveda to resign from his position.

“VA employees take care of the troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and from other parts of the world where they are deployed, and they do a tremendous job supporting them,” said Dwight Bowman, AFGE’s District 14 National Vice President. “But in order for them to be able to do the job, they have to have decent pay just like everybody else because they have families to support. They are just an integral part of everything that goes on.”

The downgrades are targeting the lowest pay grade levels within the agency, but the agency has failed to prove that they will improve the functionality or finances of the VA. Activists argued that these potential cuts could mean the difference between workers being above or below the poverty line.

“We want to make the community aware, make the country aware, and certainly get the attention of the Veterans Administration in that we’re not going to stand by and let them cut the bottom of the pay scale,” said Colleen Stewart, a VA nurse from Salisbury, N.C.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

THE FEDERAL DEFICIT EXPLAINED

 

We’re hearing a lot about the federal budget and the deficit, about spending and taxes. I wondered what our government would’ve looked like in 2011 if we had balanced the budget, only spending what we took in. Hello, my name is Carolyn Federoff. I’m a federal employee and a member of the American Federation of Government Employees. And this presentation shows you what our government would’ve looked like.

 

 

 

This chart is from the Congressional Budget Office. It’s full of information, but I want you to focus on the bottom left. In 2011, we spent $3.6 trillion, and took in $2.3 trillion. What would it take to cut $1.3 trillion, and only spend what we brought in?

 

 

AFGE TELLS ROMNEY TO STOP UNFAIR ATTACK ON FEDERAL WORKERS

***This information should not be downloaded using government equipment, read during duty time or sent to others using government equipment. Do not circulate at the worksite.***

AFGE National President John Gage today fired off a letter to former Governor Mitt Romney, calling him to task for making disparaging remarks about federal workers.

After his latest round of primary victories on Tuesday, Governor Romney delivered what Fox News dubbed a “killer speech” in which he derided the “unfairness of government workers getting better pay and benefits than the taxpayers they serve.”

In a blistering response, President Gage called Romney’s comment “ridiculous and patently false” and went on to scold the governor for scapegoating federal employees “while corporate executives benefit from record profits and outrageous tax loopholes.”

So yes, Governor Romney, we do need to “stop the unfairness” – the unfairness of politicians spreading false claims as facts and tarnishing the image of government workers to score political points.

As President Gage points out, more than half of all federal employees earn less than $70,000 a year, and one-fourth earn less than $50,000. Federal employees have had their pay frozen for two consecutive years, have suffered from rising health care costs and have experienced the same challenges as other middle-class families during these difficult economic times.

Federal employees have worked diligently to serve the American people during these difficult times, despite the persistent prospect of government shutdowns and the loss of their jobs due to agency budget cuts.

AFGE RESPONDS TO HOUSE GOP BUDGET PROPOSAL

 IMPORTANT: This information should not be downloaded using government equipment, read during duty time or sent to others using government equipment, because it suggests action to be taken in support or against legislation. Do not use your government email address, government address or government phone in contacting your Member of Congress in response to this statement. 

American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage today issued the following statement in response to the 2013 budget plan introduced by House Republicans:

“The House GOP budget, proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, proposes a staggering $368 billion in additional federal workforce cuts over the next 10 years. Federal employees would have their salaries frozen for another three years and would face massive cuts to the retirement benefits promised when they were hired. In addition, the federal workforce would be cut by 10 percent,

AFGE National President John Gage

jeopardizing the federal programs and services every American relies on.

“Meanwhile, the Republican budget would deliver more tax breaks to the millionaires and billionaires, oil companies and Wall Street firms who continue to score record profits while the rest of the country struggles to recover. American companies would receive lucrative new tax incentives to move jobs overseas, worsening the employment prospects of the nearly 13 million Americans who remain out of work. The Ryan budget lowers the tax rate for millionaires and billionaires even further while slashing programs like Medicare and Medicaid.  The budget plan would transfer even greater wealth to the 1%, making them even richer, while attacking the economic future for the middle class and poor. If approved, it will undermine the creation of good jobs needed to put Americans back to work.

“Federal employees already have had their pay frozen for two consecutive years, an unprecedented action that will save the government $60 billion over 10 years. And new federal employees will pay four times as much in retirement contributions, saving taxpayers an additional $15 billion. That’s a total of $75 billion in savings.

“It is fundamentally wrong for federal employees to be required, yet again, to serve as the Automated Teller Machine for the nation. Enough is enough.”

CONGRESS GETS BETTER PENSION DEAL THAN FEDERAL WORKERS IN NEW BILL

AFGE leader criticizes lawmakers for hypocritical shell game 

Members of Congress will get more lucrative pensions than new federal employees under a little-known provision in the bill that extends payroll tax relief and unemployment insurance, AFGE National President John Gage said Feb. 17.

An AFGE member participates in a march on Capitol Hill on Feb. 14, 2012

Thanks to Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., members of Congress appear to be on the same footing as federal employees but in fact they’re keeping a luxurious benefit that lets them retire years earlier than federal workers without any reduction in their pension. This kind of underhanded shell game gives hypocrisy a bad name.

Under the back-room deal that was rushed to a vote today, federal employees hired after Dec. 31, 2012 will pay 3.1 percent of their salary toward their pensions – a four-fold increase from the current rate. New members of Congress will pay the same rate as new federal employees, but they will be able to retire at age 50 with 20 years of service without the significant penalty most federal employees receive for retiring early.

A federal employee and a member of Congress who both start on the same day will pay the same rate toward their pension, but the federal employees’ pension will be reduced by 50 percent for retiring early while the congressman will be able to retire years earlier and start receiving their full pension immediately. Apparently, the drafters of this sham legislation think they deserve a better deal than what they forced on federal workers.

Gage particularly criticized Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., for insisting that the extension in unemployment insurance be paid for on the backs of federal employees.

There were 10 different ways, including eliminating subsidies for big profitable corporations, they could have funded this. But for totally political reasons, Camp and other House leaders decided to go after federal employees. And now, to find out that they cut a better deal for themselves, it’s just sickening.

AFGE STATEMENT ON EMPLOYEE PENSION DEAL

AFGE National President John Gage

American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage today issued the following statement in response to the announcement that Congress will pay for extending unemployment insurance for out-of-work Americans by requiring new federal workers to pay more for their retirement:

“I am outraged that lawmakers are willing to pay for this extension in unemployment insurance by forcing new federal workers to pay substantially more for their retirement. Going after the pay and benefits of working-class men and women does nothing to create new jobs in this country.

“No group has sacrificed like federal employees. Congress froze their pay for two years, which cost federal employees $60 billion in lost wages. Meanwhile, the millionaires and billionaires who have continued to profit during this economic recession haven’t been asked to pay one nickel more in taxes. We continue to pay massive subsidies to oil companies and bail out the banks that started this recession with their shady lending practices that caused millions of Americans to lose their homes. Explain to me how that makes any sense.

“As I understand it, this backroom deal will require all newly hired federal employees to pay three times more for their pensions than currently required. This action will drastically reduce take-home pay for these employees and make it harder for federal agencies to attract the best and brightest.

“And make no mistake, current federal employees are still on the chopping block. House leaders want to squeeze more out of federal employees to pay for the massive transportation bill. Their proposal would increase federal employee retirement contributions four-fold and lower the average salary that’s used to calculate pensions. These changes would result in a massive 40% cut to a federal employee’s retirement check.

“Cutting take-home pay for working class men and women is exactly the wrong thing to do to put Americans back to work.”

A LETTER FROM AFGE HUD LOCAL PRESIDENT FEATURED IN THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Click here to go to the article and read comments at the Washington Examiner.

———

To the Examiner:

In your editorial on Monday, you described my union, AFGE,  basically a Federal sector union, as a “powerhouse.”  You asserted that “23 states have right-to-work laws that protect workers who choose not to join unions, and federal employees are not even covered by these laws.  The result is effectively a union shop.”

In fact, the federal government is an open shop.  No one is required to join a union.  What this means in practice is that everyone in the bargaining unit votes for union representation and benefits from the union.  Nevertheless, since Federal employees do not have to pay dues, most of those in the bargaining unit do not join.   We are required to represent them anyway.  If we discriminate in favor of union members, we face an unfair labor practice action before the Federal Labor Relations Authority.

No union is a “powerhouse” in such an environment.  Unions dislike “right to work” laws because there is no incentive for those in the bargaining unit to pay dues.   Thus, in “right to work” states unions are much weaker because they cannot afford to exist in an environment where only 10% of those covered choose to pay dues.   “Right to work” means no real unionization.

Contrary to your editorial, we are not covered by the Wagner Act.  Federal employees cannot bargain over wages, medical benefits, and pensions.  No dues money can go to political campaigns, and we as union leaders are limited in the roles we play per Hatch Act restrictions.

But, among other things, we press management to be better organized (less layers of supervision).  In other words, we often save taxpayers money by promoting efficiency.  We are the real ombudsmen in the Federal government.

I know your antiunion animus, but you should at least be accurate when making allegations.

Maybe if you knew the facts and were rational, you might even support legislation that strengthens Federal sector unions.

Of course, I do not expect such a change in your biases against unions.  I continue to read your newspaper because the price (free) is right and at least the sports and theater sections are objective.

Eddie Eitches,

President, AFGE Local 476 (HUD)

http://www.afge476.org

AFGE STATEMENT ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT HEARING

American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage today issued the following statement in response to the congressional hearing on federal employees’ retirement security before the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the federal workforce, U.S. Postal Service and labor policy:

“Congress created the Federal Employees Retirement System in the mid-1980s to mirror leading private sector practices. The vast majority of a federal employee’s retirement income comes from personal investments in the government’s 401(k) plan and mandatory payments into Social Security. Federal employees also receive a very modest pension that provides an average of $939 a month when they retire. As NARFE Director of Retirement Benefit Services David Snell so eloquently stated in his testimony before the subcommittee, ‘federal employees are not retiring rich.’

“Despite what Subcommittee Chairman Dennis Ross would lead one to believe, the FERS retirement system is fully funded and poses no additional tax burden on the American public. Yet the congressman and others want to cut federal employees’ wages so more of their take-home pay goes into this fully funded system. That’s not only unnecessary, it’s downright unfair.

“Congressman Ross is right about one thing – the American public is outraged. They’re outraged by lawmakers who are more worried about protecting their millionaire and billionaire campaign donors than creating jobs for the millions of unemployed workers.”

###

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 625,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Executive Order 10988

January 17th marks the 50^th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of Executive Order 10988, which began collective bargaining in the federal government. Not only did this Executive Order permit workers to join and engage in union activity but it also set the stage for expanding these rights under Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. It demonstrated a true bipartisan show of support from past presidents for the right of federal workers to have a voice on the job, and an ability to positively impact their livelihoods.

At a time when government workers are currently under partisan attack, recognizing the significance of Executive Order 10988 is especially important to remind everyone of the long journey government workers have taken, and to re-energize workers for the battles ahead.

The AFL-CIO will commemorate this historic occasion on Tuesday, January 17^th at its headquarters. National Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis is scheduled to speak. In addition, AFGE National President John Gage will introduce AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Click here to view Executive Order 10988.