John,
Today the AFGE National Executive Council voted 8-6 to postpone our National Convention due to the ongoing dangers and unpredictability of this COVID-19 pandemic. I did not cast a vote.
The decision was a very difficult one for everyone. The results of the survey of local presidents were as follows: 157 votes for holding the Convention in person as scheduled this August, 188 votes in favor of a delayed in-person Convention, and 65 in favor of a fully virtual Convention this August. Only 410 of the 943 locals voted. Many people told us that they didn’t get the ballot so we emailed it out a second time.
I certainly understand the reluctance to delay our most important AFGE event. But this pandemic created so many cost and health considerations that a majority of the NEC decided that prudence required a vote to delay. No one should be criticized for their vote. Everybody tried to make the best decision they could with the information they had.
This NEC vote topped out an extremely busy week.
Latest on OPM Guidance
We are all anxious to get rid of all traces of the 2018 executive orders that took away our office space, official time, appeal rights and ruined large parts of our collective bargaining agreements. The agencies are all saying that they’re waiting on OPM to issue guidance. We had a couple of meetings this week, with both staff and political at OPM to increase the pressure not only to get the guidance issued, but also to make sure that the guidance does what we need it to do. One of the most important things we’re emphasizing is that agencies must be accountable for enforcing the Biden executive order. We know that if they’re left to own devices, they’ll drag their feet and keep as much of the 2018 EOs in effect that they can get away with.
VA Union Office Space
When we met with the VA last week we argued that there were some things they could do without OPM guidance that were completely clear from the language of President Biden’s revocation EO. In particular, they could restore our office space, access to agency computers, and official time. This Tuesday, they called off the rental fees, restoring our access to agency office space. A small step forward and one we’re very happy to have obtained.
EEOC Official Time Ruling Withdrawn
Another piece of excellent news this week: On Wednesday, we learned that the EEOC withdrew from the Federal Register the union-busing regulation that would have prohibited union reps from using EEO official time when they are representing federal co-workers in EEO matters. This is a huge win. We’ve been fighting this regulation at every turn since it was first proposed. AFGE, and in particular the EEOC Council, organized thousands of letters of opposition during the public comment period, from Civil Rights and Women’s Rights organizations, other unions, and most importantly our members. The Chair forced a vote in December that went along party lines. The new Chair, Charlotte Burrows withdrew it. She had spoken passionately against the rule when the Commission met to vote on it and we are extremely glad to see it withdrawn.
Recent Panel Discussions
Earlier this week, I participated on a panel sponsored by George Mason University on the question of what the post-pandemic federal workplace will look like and what federal employees want in post-pandemic employment. It was a great conversation, one that we need to continue within AFGE. While about half of AFGE members have had to continue to work at their regular worksites throughout this pandemic, the other half have been teleworking. Teleworking poses all kinds of challenges for union representation and it was a valuable experience to discuss these issues with academic experts who genuinely care about the worker perspective.
Finally, I want to mention a truly superb Black History Month event I attended sponsored by NVAC Locals 17 and 910 that featured Dr. Noliwe Rooks a Cornell University professor of African Studies, American Studies, and Gender Studies. She talked about the many ways race and gender affect and reflect American culture. We learned a lot! And the new VA Secretary, Dennis McDonough, attended as well with a shout-out to AFGE. We’ll take that as a promising sign of things to come.
Have a great union weekend!
Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President
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