John,
AFGE has been steadfast in our push for immediate action to help protect our members and the public we serve.
In this week's newsletter we've included important updates and an overview of the actions we've taken in the last week to fight for the health and safety of government employees.
TELL CONGRESS TO HALT USCIS FURLOUGHS
Nearly 13,000 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees are facing furloughs.
We need Congress to ACT NOW and approve $1.2 billion for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to keep our bargaining unit members on the job. Being furloughed during a global health crisis would be detrimental to workers and their ability to care for their families.
Click here to email your member of Congress to stop the furloughs!
A ROADMAP FOR SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19
Even though the United States has the world’s highest numbers of coronavirus cases and deaths, the federal government has remained open throughout the outbreak. The Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and various other departments, agencies and components our members have worked bravely and courageously throughout the pandemic, most on the front lines at their regular duty stations, with many others working remotely to carry out the missions of their agencies.
We don’t have firm data on how many federal workers have contracted the virus and died, but the data we do have indicates that at least 45 civilian federal workers have died from COVID-19: 30 at the VA, 5 at the Defense Department, 6 at the Transportation Security Administration, and 4 at the Food Safety and Inspection Service. Thousands have contracted the virus.
Now that the federal government has started to resume full operations, more infections and deaths will be reported.
Click here to read more on the 10 things we need for successful government operations during COVID-19.
ACT NOW TO STOP A NEW ANTI-UNION EEOC RULE
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.
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.
Click here to take action NOW and submit a comment opposing this anti-union EEOC rule!
Please regularly check
afge.org/Coronavirus to view important coronavirus updates.
Note: Information on this site is not intended to substitute for actual medical care or professional medical advice. If you believe you are, or may be ill, contact your primary care health provider immediately. Information on this website may change as the situation/recommendations/resources evolve. Please check back frequently.
Sincerely,
Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President
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