SEQUESTRATION FACT SHEET #1

SEQUESTRATION FACT SHEET #1

By Jeff Bratko, Steward AFGE Local 704

You’ve probably heard the word “sequestration” used by the news media during the last few months.  Some people refer to it as being part of the “fiscal cliff” that may occur in January 2013.  There is a lot we do not know about how sequestration will be implemented.  Unfortunately, management is handling sequestration the way it handled the furlough threat a couple of years ago. It does not appear that specific plans for dealing with the sequestration are being shared with employees.  That means that you are on your own in terms of planning for the sequestration.  Waiting to make plans for the sequestration until management provides us with some facts may be a costly mistake.  However, in order to make plans you need some basic facts and that is what this fact sheet provides.

What is sequestration? Continue reading “SEQUESTRATION FACT SHEET #1”

New AFGE president eyes November elections

The Federal Diary
The Federal Diary
Joe Davidson

New AFGE president eyes November elections

By , Published: August 28

J. David Cox just won a presidential race this month, but it’s the one in November that will be much more consequential for his members.

Cox was elected two weeks ago as president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal union. He’s had no time to savor that victory, however, because he is gearing up to help President Obama and other labor-friendly candidates win their campaigns.


(Courtesy of American Federation of Government Employees) – J. David Cox was elected two weeks ago as president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Continue reading “New AFGE president eyes November elections”

The Really Dangerous Candidates – For AFGE Members Only

IMPORTANT: You may view this email using your home email on your personal computer, smart phone, or other electronic device. BUT, this information should not be downloaded using government equipment, read during duty time, or sent to others using government equipment, because it involves taking an election related action and could be a violation of the Hatch Act.

AFGE PAC

Dear AFGE Local 704 Brothers and Sisters!

With just a few seats, the Senate could be in the control of politicians just as extreme as Paul Ryan.

We can stop them, though, if we use the power in numbers that corporate donors can’t give them.

George Allen, who referred to federal employees as “sanctimonious social engineers” in a debate over the Virginia Senate seat that he’s after, won’t make the news this week.

The headlines right now will focus on Paul Ryan, even though candidates for the US Senate like Allen or Josh Mandel or Todd Akin are just as extreme as Ryan, and they will be just as dangerous if they win.

Because right now, every tax on your pension, budget cut, or pay freeze extension that’s passed in the House is stopped by slim margins in the Senate. But after November’s elections we could see those proposals become law. Immediately.

That is, unless the candidates who will fight for the middle class have our support. We must fight to elect pro-labor candidates like Allen’s opponent in Virginia, Tim Kaine, who has worked hard for good jobs and fair pay, along with supporting tax fairness initiatives like the “Buffet Rule.”

Chip in a few dollars today and help us support candidates like Kaine, and ensure that extreme candidates don’t turn the Senate into a rubber stamp for Bush-era policies. Simply sign in with your username and password to the AFGE website to contribute to AFGE PAC quickly and easily online.

It’s no secret what the Republican Party would do if they take control of the Senate and hold on to the House. Our 2-year pay freeze wouldn’t end in December. It would go on for 10 years, taking $60 billion from worker pockets while the rich pay nothing. If they had their way, your pensions would be taxed for another $15 billion. And 10% of us would be fired.

At any given time there are dozens of bills in the GOP-majority House that target federal workers through pay freezes, unpaid furloughs, or pension taxes.

These aren’t just threats or proposals – that’s the GOP-led reality. All these measures have already passed the House. And with control of the Senate, they’d be federal law faster than you can say “Tea Party.”

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Candidates like Chris Murphy, Claire McCaskill, John Tester and Sherrod Brown have shown that they care about protecting jobs and the infrastructure that makes the United States great. And AFGE PAC is committed to putting strong candidates that are committed to tax fairness and a strong middle class into office.

Sign-in here to chip in a few dollars to the AFGE PAC. It will only take a minute, but doing so could save your pension, our livelihood, and the middle class.

You and I don’t have deep pockets or corporate accounts like most campaign donors – but we have a power in numbers that they don’t have. If we stick together we can make a real difference in this election.

In solidarity,

J. David Cox, Sr.
President, AFGE


For the latest updates on your pension, pay, budget cuts, and other news, text “NoCuts” on your personal phone to 225-568 or sign up online.

Please do not reply to this email. If you would like to unsubscribe from the AFGE list, you can visit your subscription management page.

New AFGE president suggests retroactive pay raise for feds

New AFGE president suggests retroactive pay raise for feds

American Federation of Government Employees president J. David Cox
American Federation of Government Employees president J. David Cox AFGE photo

The newly elected president of the American Federation of Government Employees will lobby President Obama to support a pay raise for federal employees retroactive to January 2013 if it is approved in the final fiscal 2013 budget, according a Federal Times report.

Obama announced earlier this week that he would use his authority to grant federal employees the across-the-board 0.5 percent pay raise he had proposed for 2013, but only after Congress passes a budget. Lawmakers anticipate passing a six-month continuing resolution when they return from the August recess, meaning the earliest the pay raise could take effect would be April 2013. Continue reading “New AFGE president suggests retroactive pay raise for feds”

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