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AFGE Family,

When the Chair of the EEOC put out a proposed regulation designed to simultaneously undermine the union and take away the best possible representation federal employees have in pursuing an EEO claim, thousands of AFGE members took action to oppose the regulation.

Now the EEOC has reopened the comment period on this regulation and we again must show our opposition.

With our entire nation examining how we can ensure fair treatment of all Americans, regardless of race, color and diversity that makes us stronger, this is exactly the wrong time to make it harder to bring forth a claim of discrimination. EEOC has an important civil rights mission and with this role it should be promoting robust enforcement not making access harder for those who are vulnerable.

Click here to take action NOW and submit a comment opposing this anti-union EEOC rule!

Also, due to COVID-19, federal employees critically need the assistance of their union reps when it comes to reasonable accommodation of disabilities that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Likewise, COVID-19 may raise issues for those in the protected age group or pose discriminatory treatment based on national origin.

The proposed regulation would prohibit the use of official time/paid duty time by a union representative in the context of an EEO claim.

Currently federal employees with an EEO claim can pick a representative and pursue the case on duty time, that is, during business hours while being paid. But if this rule goes into effect they can pick anybody as their representative EXCEPT an elected union representative like a shop steward or local officer, because not being able to serve on duty would impede their representation.

In the #MeToo era, to place this new obstacle in front of federal employees who want their union representative to represent them in an EEO matter deters federal employees from pursuing EEO cases.

Act now! Comments from the public are due no later than July 31, 2020. Click here to submit your comment and help us flood the Chairwoman’s Federal Register inbox with opposition!

Federal employees can’t afford EEO lawyers – they have always understood that their union representatives are the most experienced, best trained, most trusted representatives in EEO matters. And under this new rule, union representatives will be excluded from official time. Every other federal employee can have it – but union officials are excluded from official time if they’re handling an EEO matter.

This is union-busting – a blatant attempt to delegitimize our union and take away our ability to represent our members.

In Solidarity,

Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President

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