Citing past problems, including discrimination against women and minorities, with so-called “merit” pay schemes tried in the Defense Department and a handful of other agencies, AFGE President J. David Cox is warning lawmakers against trashing federal pay grades.

WASHINGTON –Despite huge past problems with electronic verification of Social Security eligibility, the union representing the system’s workers says the Social Security Administration (SSA) is charging ahead with a plan to force almost all recipients into Internet-only communication. And that could endanger benefits for millions of people, adds AFGE.

RALEIGH, N.C.–North Carolina capitol police, obeying a GOP-passed law restricting access to the state capitol building in Raleigh, arrested American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) President J. David Cox during the latest “Moral Monday” protest there – this one dedicated to workers’ rights.

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 205,000 workers at the troubled Veterans Affairs Department (VA), backs a reform bill to improve access to VA hospitals – and community health clinics, if needed – and to increase the numbers of VA doctors and nurses.

WASHINGTON –Working with the American Federation of Government Employees, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers defeated a Right Wing Republican’s scheme to substitute contractors for thousands of Defense Department civilian workers. During House debate on May 22 on DOD’s legislation for the year starting Oct. 1, Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-Kansas, tried to “place a moratorium on insourcing previously contracted activities” at […]

WASHINGTON–The American Federation of Government Employees is launching a year-long video campaign emphasizing federal workers’ contributions to U.S. society and well-being. The “I am AFGE” campaign of 2-minute videos stars the workers and is designed to counter political stereotypes.  For at least 30 years, candidates of both parties have run against “Washington,” insulted workers as overpaid time-servers, and often cut […]

WASHINGTON—Government workers’ union leaders and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka slammed the federal budget deal top lawmakers reached on Dec. 10, saying it unfairly hits the nation’s 2 million federal workers – who have borne the brunt of prior budget cuts. And Trumka hit Congress for refusing to ask those who have gained the most from the slow economic recovery – […]

WASHINGTON —A wide range of federal budget-cutting options, listed but not advocated by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), would if adopted badly hit federal workers who already suffer from past budget-cutting, the American Federation of Government Employees says. Not only that, but three GOP senators want to “Wal-Martize” federal workers by eliminating regular pensions for all new hires, the […]

WASHINGTON—Moving to close an injustice to workers, the Democratic-run Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted 8-6 on party lines on Nov. 19 to restore some collective bargaining rights to some Veterans Affairs (VA) professional workers. Major veterans groups and the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents VA workers, support the legislation.  The GOP opposed it.  Senate Republicans argued the measure […]

WASHINGTON—Here we go again.  With the federal government facing yet another politically inspired shutdown at midnight on Sept. 30, the American Federation of Government Employees has had to mobilize against it yet again. And this time there’s an added threat, according to a recent news story: When the federal workers finally get called back to their jobs they might – […]