AFGE Granted First Ever Department of Justice Sexual Harassment Class Action Suit

Bureau of Prisons Local 506 was successfully granted the first ever class action sexual harassment case at the Department of Justice. More than 360 women at the Coleman Federal Prison in Florida were subjected to daily harassment by male prisoners at the facility and management failed to take action. This is a huge victory for not only AFGE but for the entire labor movement.

Source: http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/alleged-cover-ups-at-prison/v3qgs/

Click here to read more about the case from The Miami Herald.

AFGE member shares furlough story on “Inside Government”

Listen Now! 

Tune in now to AFGE’s “Inside Government” as a union member speaks out on the impact of being furloughed. The show, which originally aired on Friday, May 24, is now available on demand.

AFGE Environmental Protection Agency Local 704 member Elizabeth Lytle, a cancer survivor and disabled veteran, described her experiences as a federal employee going through sequestration, including the financial and emotional toll of mandatory furloughs.

But first, Maryland Citizens Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco discussed the latest on Maryland’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and benefits set to take effect in 2014.

Lastly, Bill Fletcher Jr., author of “They’re Bankrupting Us!: And 20 Other Myths about Unions,” dispelled myths about unions and the labor movement.

Listen LIVE on Fridays at 10 a.m. on 1500 AM WFED in the D.C. area or online at FederalNewsRadio.com.

For more information, please visit InsideGovernmentRadio.com.

Help Promote USDA’s Summer Free Lunch Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides free or reduced price lunches to 22 million children during the school year through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). In the summer, the program reimburses organizations that serve children meals at feeding sites. Churches, schools, camps, recreation centers, playgrounds, and parks in neighborhoods with high percentages of low income families can provide summer meals to children.

USDA wants AFGE’s help in spreading the word about NSLP throughout your communities. The goal is to help make a positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children by promoting participation in the Summer Meals program and making the community aware of its benefits.

To learn more about USDA’s Summer Food Service Program and how you can help publicize it to your community, please visit http://www.afge.org/index.cfm?contentID=3304.

Celebrating National Nurses Week 2013

Reblogged from AFGE Members Tell Their Stories:

AFGE honors and recognizes the commitment of federal nurses in providing world-class healthcare. Below is a slide show highlighting some of our AFGE federal nurses.

Read more… 4 more words

Have You Been Affected by Furloughs? We Want to Hear From You!

More than 700,000 federal government employees will experience up to a 20 percent pay cut due to forced furloughs. Are you an AFGE member affected by furloughs?  We want to hear from you about how furloughs are affecting your family, your life, and your community. Please click here to share your story with us and have your voices heard. If you would like to submit a photo with you entry please email it to afgecommsquad@gmail.com.

Please be sure to include your name, location, the federal agency you work for and your AFGE local number. So many of our members have shared their experiences and we want to hear from YOU!

Listen now! MSNBC’s Chris Hayes discusses workplace safety on “Inside Government”

Listen Now!

 Tune in now to AFGE’s “Inside Government” for a discussion on workplace safety. The show, which originally aired on Friday, April 26, is now available on demand.

Chris Hayes, host of MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” looked back on the Boston Marathon bombings and Texas fertilizer plant explosion to highlight the value of public employees and workplace safety.

GovLoop Community Engagement Director Andrew Krzmarzick then provided tips for furloughed federal employees facing a work backlog and highlighted the benefits of government agencies using social media.

Greg Brooks, president of AFGE’s Federal Aviation Administration Local 2282, discussed the latest developments on furloughs at the FAA. Brooks also addressed the short- and long-term consequences of sequestration, including the impact on national security.

AFGE Small Business Administration Council 228 President Elaine Powell-Belnavis then discussed the union’s labor contract agreement with SBA, which covers 2,000 federal employees and provides a range of benefits from an updated awards program to an expedited arbitration process.

Listen LIVE on Fridays at 10 a.m. on 1500 AM WFED in the D.C. area or online at FederalNewsRadio.com.

For more information, please visit InsideGovernmentRadio.com.

AFGE NATIONAL PRESIDENT RECOGNIZED BY YITZHAK RABIN CENTER

Left to right: AFGE District 11 NVP Gerald Swanke; District 5 NVP Everette Kelley; NST Eugene Hudson Jr.; Women’s and Fair Practices NVP Augusta Thomas; National Pres. J. David Cox, Sr.; District 10 NVP Roy Flores; District 7 NVP Arnold Scott; and Dalia Rabin-Pelossof.

An executive conference room was dedicated today at the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, as part of the tribute to American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr., recipient of the 2012 Public Service Award from the American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center. The Center is the official memorial to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who pursued public service through his country’s Labor Party. Rabin, winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize (along with Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat), dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace, justice, and public service. Yitzhak Rabin was slain by an assassin in 1995, but his efforts to bring together people of disparate backgrounds to work for peace and social progress continue through the work of the Center.

The AFGE delegation met with Israeli labor leaders and members who work in various government agencies, including the Tel Hashomer hospital where many wounded soldiers are treated by medical personnel represented by AFGE’s Israeli counterpart, the International Union of Government Employees. The delegation also visited an Air Force base to meet with local union representatives to discuss their working conditions, union rights and agency missions. The unions pledged continued future contacts and to work in solidarity to improve the voice of workers in their respective countries.

At the dedication ceremony, Cox remarked:

“The message of the AFL-CIO is that ‘work connects us all.’ That fundamental truth is why the labor movement has been the vehicle for human progress all through history. People differ in terms of religion, belief, gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, and ability – but when we join together in a union, none of that matters. We become brothers and sisters in the struggle for dignity on the job and a better life for everybody.

“The struggle for peace is really the same as labor’s struggle,” continued Cox. “My hope and prayer is that this space will be a place where people from all backgrounds will come together and find common ground, working for labor solidarity, peace, and a better life for all peoples.”

Listen Now! Reaction to Obama’s 2014 Budget Plan on “Inside Government”

Listen Now!

Tune in now to AFGE’s “Inside Government” for reactions to President Obama’s fiscal 2014 budget proposal. The show, which originally aired on Friday, April 12, is now available on demand.

AFGE National Council of Social Security Administration Field Operations Locals President Witold Skwierczynski addressed the chained Consumer Price Index (CPI) and increase in federal employees’ pension contributions in the president’s budget proposal. Skwierczynski also discussed the status of unresolved articles – appraisals, merit promotions and telework – in the union’s contract agreement with SSA management.

National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare President and CEO Max Richtman continued the budget conversation, analyzing the chained CPI impact on Social Security benefits for seniors and veterans.

Lastly, AFGE Public Policy Director Jacque Simon detailed proposed changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Listen LIVE on Fridays at 10 a.m. on 1500 AM WFED in the D.C. area or online at FederalNewsRadio.com.

For more information, please visit InsideGovernmentRadio.com.

Local 3313 Unveils New Website

A glimpse of Local 3313′s new website design. Visit http://www.afgelocal3313.org/ to see more.

AFGE Department of Transportation Local 3313 recently unveiled its new website that includes a more innovative design and more useful information for members.

The Local under the direction of Local President Sheila Wilson, created a strategic marketing plan before enlisting the guidance of other members and eventually hiring website development team to create the new website. The website is easy to update and enables viewing on mobile devices. The Local’s main goal is to provide more content for members and prospective members and update the site on a weekly basis.

In addition to revamping its website, Local 3313 is also increasing its social media presence. “We live in a digital world and we know a lot of people find resourceful information on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.  Sometimes it’s an easier way to reach more members than through the website,” says Kanika Tolver, Local 3313 member and website team member.

Local 3313 plans to use its new website to engage more of its members and create a dialogue that will encourage members to become involved with union issues and activities.

Check out Local 3313’s new website here: http://www.afgelocal3313.org/

Visit www.afge.org for more information about how you can create a free website for your Local.

For more information about the social media training offered by AFGE’s Communications Department, please call (202) 639-6419 or visit http://afgecommtraining.com/.

AFGE’s Latest Legal Victories!

AFGE’s Latest Legal Victories!

The latest roundup of AFGE’s legal victories is now online for all to see. Check it out and pass it around to all your members!