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AFGE Family,

We have had another very busy week with much to celebrate.

Biden ousts union-busters from Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP)

In case you missed the news, on Tuesday, President Biden asked for the resignation of all ten of the atrocious members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP). Eight complied and he fired the other two. Of course, this phenomenal event didn’t just happen, and the timing wasn’t incidental either. It took a lot of hard work not only to get the union-busing “terrible ten” out of power, but to get rid of them before they got the chance to destroy the National VA Council’s contract. Tuesday was truly a banner day for AFGE, and I still can’t wipe the smile off my face.

Pushing for progress on implementing Biden’s revocation of anti-union EOs

But more sobering is the fact that President Biden’s Executive Order revoking the 2018 Executive Orders that gave that FSIP its marching orders is not yet being implemented. That is, the Trump EOs are still in effect as long as all the policies and actions that flowed from them are still in effect. Monday evening, I had the honor of attending a virtual meeting with the members of Local 1923 from Social Security where we strategized on how to get the agency off the dime on restoring what Trump took away while management uses the excuse that they’re waiting for OPM guidance.

Yesterday, we had almost the same conversation with the Acting Deputy Secretary of the VA and the newly appointed head of HR for the VA. They said all the right things about “resetting” the relationship to one of mutual respect and partnership but were also reluctant to act until they get the guidance from OPM. We pushed hard to say that allowing the terms of the Trump EOs to remain in effect violated the spirit if not the letter of President Biden’s EO and urged them to start taking steps toward restoration of our presence at the worksite, our official time and the like.

Fighting for AT LEAST $15 for ALL federal workers – GS and WG alike

We also began what will be a strong campaign to include GS employees in President Biden’s promise of $15 per hour for all federal work. Anybody making a salary of less than $31,000 per year makes less than $15 per hour and needs to be included. I intend to make sure that when they say all federal workers, they mean ALL and that includes GS and WG alike.

Excitement building for 2021 Legislative Conference

This week we also got started with taping some of the presentations for the upcoming 2021 Legislative Conference. Putting together our Legislative Conference is always an enormous undertaking but doing it virtually for the first time is really a challenge – logistically and technologically. Still, I think we’re going to have a fantastic conference and if you haven’t yet signed up, please do so. This is the year – not only do we have a rare opening for some progress with a friendly administration and Democratic control of both the Senate and House, but you don’t have to get on a plane or pay for a hotel room to be there! So please, sign up today and I promise you’ll be glad you did.

As Black History Month continues, more work to be done to realize promise of equality

This week also marked the beginning of Black History Month. As I write this, I’m thinking about last night’s vote to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene of her House committee assignments. Apparently, all she had to do to win support from the majority of her party was express some remorse for her statements denying the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and her claim that the Sandy Hook massacre didn’t happen. The ongoing hatred of Black, Brown, Jewish and Muslim people didn’t seem to matter, nor did her poster threatening to use an AR-15 against fellow members of Congress who just happen to be women of color. We still have a lot of work to do, AFGE family, and being mindful of history must be a big part of that.

Have a wonderful union weekend!

In Solidarity,

Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President

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