AFGE has created a NEW Voter Protection Facebook Page, “AFGE Defends Democracy,” in order to keep you informed about voter protection issues leading up to this year’s election. Please click here to “Like” our page and stay up to date on voter protection issues leading up to this year’s election.

Registration fees are $375 per person for Locals who register onsite.

Please call 202-639-6413 or 202-639-6412 if you have any questions.

“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.”

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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.

If you plan to pre-register today, your payment must accompany the registration form or it will not be valid. Please DO NOT MAIL the registration form or payment after January 23, 2012, but hold for online registration.

Registration fees are:

$275 per person for Locals who pay and pre-register by January 23, 2012 (TODAY).

$375 per person for Locals who register onsite.

Please call 202-639-6413 or 202-639-6412 if you have any questions.

Please visit www.afgememberstories.com to submit your story and read the stories of other members.

Visit www.afge.org and register for the Legislative Conference TODAY!

Click here to learn more about the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

“I welcome President Obama’s decision to reinstate the Small Business Administration’s status as a Cabinet-level agency – a position it held during the Clinton administration. This signifies the president’s confidence in Administrator Karen Mills and the thousands of hard-working federal employees who serve America’s small business owners.

“AFGE represents employees at four of the trade- and commerce-related agencies and offices that I understand would be consolidated under the Obama administration’s plan. We represent 2,200 employees at SBA, nearly a hundred each at the Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and about two dozen at the Trade and Development Agency.

“We are eager to review the details of the president’s consolidation plan and determine how it will impact the employees we represent and the services we deliver to the American people. I do take issue, however, with the notion that most of government is inefficient and that cutting federal workers will somehow solve the problem. Federal employees and supervisors are only carrying out the work that has been created by Congress and elected officials, who have mandated these various layers of bureaucracy largely for political gains.”

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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.

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.

This is a crucial moment for federal and D.C. government employees.  We must educate our elected officials about the value of our work and the importance of our workplace rights. Together we will create campaigns to build a stronger pro-worker bipartisan coalition in the 112th Congress.

For more information, please visit www.afge.org.

Over 500 activists and leaders from the labor and civil rights movements will come together in Detroit from January 12-January 16, 2012 for the AFL-CIO’s national annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance and National Conference.

The weekend of activities will honor the legacy of Dr. King and recommit attendees to working toward economic and social justice for working families. Attendees will engage with families and community members hit hard by the recession during a day of community service projects around the city at local shelters, food banks, schools and social service centers. A town hall meeting and a series of workshops will provide a forum for attendees to discuss and learn more about present civil and worker rights fights including attacks on voter rights, protecting public education, and organizing for job-creating legislation.

“During these times, when people are unemployed, looking for work and in poverty, it is very important for labor and civil rights activists to come together as one to continue Dr. King’s movement,” said Augusta Thomas, AFGE National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices. “Little Martin, as I called him, would be so proud of us working together for the betterment of society,” she added.

Featured speakers and awardees include: Rep. Hansen Clarke, Rep. John Conyers, national radio host Joe Madison, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, UAW Pres. Bob King, U.S Department of Labor Sec. Hilda Solis and AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker.

For more information, please click here.