House Plan Attacks 99%, Benefits 1%
House Republican leaders unveiled a budget plan today in which “once again rushed to the rescue of the 1 percent” by insisting that millionaires should not have to pay one penny in taxes, according to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Instead,
the House Republican proposal would cut benefits for jobless workers, cut pay for public employees, cut preventive health services, reduce premium assistance for low- and middle-income individuals buying health insurance, and raise premiums for many Medicare beneficiaries. House Republicans obviously have more sympathy for millionaires than for the jobless.
AFGE President John Gage also blasted the Republicans leaders” Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, introduced by House Speaker John Boehner.
This is just another attack on the 99% on behalf of their good friends—the 1%. They are targeting a small segment of people who make $30,000 to $70,000 a year, rather than asking their millionaire and billionaire supporters to pay a little more. It’s not right, and the American people should be outraged.
AFGE Protests Anti-Worker Lawmakers
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Dozens of AFGE members, other union allies and activists protested outside the district offices of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) last week. to bring attention to the lawmakers’ anti-worker, anti-middle class policies.
Outside Cantor’s district office in Richmond, activists staged some street theater as the protestors were joined by Philthy and Meg A. Rich who presented Cantor with a PAC donation for being such a “good friend to the super rich.” (See video above.)
Both Cantor and Scott supported legislation to send at least 10 percent of all federal workers to the unemployment line, including more than 30,000 in Virginia alone, and freeze pay for federal workers for five years. Cantor also supports legislation to give massive tax breaks to corporations and make it harder for workers to join a union. Scott has introduced legislation to strip federal employees of the ability to have union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks.
Scott met with demonstrators outside his Charleston, S.C., office where he engaged in a vigorous debate with AFGE President John Gage over his bill.
For more information, visit www.afge.org.
TSOs Elect AFGE as Their Union
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Even as the right to join a union is under attack across the country, more than 40,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees in 450 airports today made a strong statement for workers’ rights by electing AFGE as their exclusive union representative. The 8,903-8,447 vote came in a runoff with the National Treasury Employees Union.
AFGE President John Gage said:
We are obviously thrilled with the election results, but more importantly are delighted that the transportation security officers (TSOs) now will have the full union representation they rightly deserve. AFGE thanks the TSOs for their support and faith in our union.
In April, nearly 85 percent of the TSOs who voted chose to join a union. AFGE led the voting in that election but did not garner an outright majority.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a statement:
Today’s victory affirms the deep-seated desire of working people across the country for a voice on the job and a seat at the table in solving workplace problems when given a free choice.
AFGE, VA Sign First New Contract Since 1997
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The more than 200,000 workers who give first-class care to our nation’s sick and wounded veterans signed a new collective bargaining agreement yesterday with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The new master agreement between AFGE and the department is the first contract since 1997 and took eight years of negotiations to complete. The new pact strengthens AFGE’s working relationship and partnership with the VA and enhances working conditions for VA’s employees.
AFGE President John Gage said:
This is a morale booster for our employees. A good contract behind our workers gives them the incentive to do their best work.
Two Federal Employees Killed in Line of Duty
The president of the nation’s largest federal employees’ union that represents Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and U.S. marshals today issued the following statement after the Tuesday night ambush of two ICE agents in Mexico, one of whom was killed, and the Wednesday morning shooting in West Virginia that resulted in the killing of one federal marshal and wounding of two other marshals in the line of duty.
“In the past two days, two dedicated federal employees have been killed and three others wounded in the line of duty. These separate incidents point to the risk that federal employees face daily in service to the American public. We are deeply saddened by the loss of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and Deputy U.S. Marshal Derek Hotsinpiller. We wish condolences to both of their families,” said John Gage, president of AFGE.
Senate Rejects Move to Bar TSA Workers from Bargaining Rights
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Good news from the Senate: Today, senators voted 51-47 to reject a measure that would have prohibited transportation security officers (TSOs) from gaining collective bargaining rights.
The measure was introduced by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) as an amendment to the 2011 FAA authorization bill after TSA administrator John Pistole affirmed the TSOs’ rights to bargain earlier this month.
AFGE President John Gage praised the Senate for recognizing the value of collective bargaining.
AFGE thanks the members of the Senate who said “no” to this irresponsible amendment. Workplace rights improve employee morale, which will improve security, not undermine it. In fact, collective bargaining brings with it improved security for passengers. A bargaining agreement would lead to better working conditions, fair promotion and evaluation practices and safer workplaces, and in doing so, increasing morale.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who voted against denying TSOs the freedom to bargain, pointed out that “most federal security employees, including Border Patrol agents, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Capitol Police officers and Federal Protective Service officers, have collective bargaining rights. First responders on Sept. 11, who not only risked their lives but gave their lives, were union members.
Bargaining Rights Finally a Reality for TSOs
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After a nine-year battle to gain a voice in the workplace, more than 40,000 transportation security officers (TSOs) finally can become union members and bargain for a contract.
In a major victory for working people, John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, today announced that he has decided to grant partial collective bargaining rights to the TSA workforce. AFGE President John Gage praised the decision as an important first step, saying it would enhance safety for America’s flying public. Gage adds:
Today marks the recognition of a fundamental human right for 40,000 patriotic federal employees who have been disenfranchised since the inception of the agency.
For nine years, TSOs have had to deal with issues of dangerous workplaces, discrimination, selective hiring practices, nepotism, management intimidation, and reports of lax oversight at the agency with only AFGE to stand between them and an often arbitrary and capricious management.
Now many issues will be up for negotiations, including seniority, shift biddings, transfers and awards.
Three Union Members Win National Awards for Outstanding Service
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Three union members—two police officers and a veteran voice actor—received prestigious national awards for outstanding service in recent days.
Tonight, veteran voice actor Sheldon Smith will receive the Howard Keel award, presented by the Screen Actors (SAG). A long-time member of SAG and the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (AFTRA), Smith is an award-winning actor/narrator and perhaps the best-known voice of Republican media campaigns in America.
Senior Sgt. Mark Todd and Sgt. Kimberly Munley, members of AFGE Local 1920, received the Top Cop Award from the National Association of Police Organizations. They heroically shot the gunman and protected the public during a bloody rampage at Fort Hood Army base in Texas last November.
Munley and Todd were among the 26 winners of the award who attended a White House ceremony with President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder last week. The Top Cops Award program honors America’s outstanding law enforcement officers, highlighting those who have made a significant contribution to our country above and beyond the call of duty.
AFGE’s TSO Election Petition Moving Quickly
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Even though the head of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has not been confirmed, AFGE is moving ahead quickly with its plans, seeking an election so transportation security officers (TSOs) can join a union.
On Feb. 22, AFGE filed a petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) for an election to allow the 41,000 TSOs to vote on union representation. In 2003, the Bush administration stripped the workers of collective bargaining rights. The FLRA is moving the petition through its election process quicker than usual, AFGE President John Gage said on the “Inside Government” radio show.
Under law, the TSA administrator will decide if workers can have bargaining rights. The workers would then choose a union to represent them. President Obama this week nominated Maj. Gen. Robert Harding as TSA administrator. The previous nominee, Erroll Southers, withdrew after his nomination was held hostage by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) because DeMint opposes allowing TSA workers the freedom to form a union.
Thousands of Workers Without Jobs Due to One Senator: Kentucky’s Bunning
The filibuster started Friday by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) not only has halted a desperately needed unemployment insurance (UI) extension for millions of America’s jobless workers. By blocking the UI bill, Bunning has caused the furlough of 2,000 transportation workers, halted construction on 41 economic recovery projects in 17 states, forced doctors to take big cuts in Medicare payments and left 1.2 million jobless Americans without COBRA.
And Bunning doesn’t seem to care about who suffers because of his move. This morning, when another Republican senator, Susan Collins of Maine, asked for unanimous consent to extend the unemployment benefits, Bunning objected again.
