From the earliest days of the republic, the progress of the United States has been spurred by the men and women answering the call of public service. Two centuries ago they were surveyors, shipbuilders, clerks and administrators. Today they are that and more: medical professionals, accountants, technicians, mechanics, researchers, scientists, cartographers, engineers, specialists in security, mathematicians, janitors, food inspectors, corrections officers, diplomats, interpreters, educational experts, data processors, mine inspectors, administrators and even cowboys.
Virtually every occupation in the private sector has a counterpart in government service. The key difference is the mission of government's workers: their job is making America work for all Americans.
American's citizens rely on the services of government workers much more than they realize. The products of government workers enable fishermen and farmers to plan their work. Older Americans know they will receive their Social Security checks on time. Educators throughout the nation rely on the statistics and predictions of employees of the Department of Education. Workers throughout the nation depend upon the Labor Department's corps of inspectors, administrators and enforcement personnel monitoring the safety of American workplaces, protecting pensions, compiling data and facts relied upon by American commerce. Employees of the Department of Housing and Urban Development work in tandem with state and local officials to attack the problem of homelessness. The nation's children are protected from exploitation by compliance officers from the Department of Labor—just as migrant workers are. The nation's borders are protected and immigration laws enforced by the men and women assigned those tasks.
Every day government workers go about the business of assuring defense readiness, launching space missions, producing maps, charts, and weather reports, caring for veterans and the elderly, monitoring the safety of food, formulating information and data and making it available to scholars, business and the general public.
The responsibility of government today is the same as it was when there were only 13 states: to protect America's citizens and to enable them to engage in the pursuits guaranteed by the Constitution. Since 1932 the responsibility of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has been to assure America's government employees of fairness, due process, decent and safe working conditions, fair pay and a voice on the job. AFGE's story is America's story. When the union is free to carry out that role, the morale, efficiency, and productivity of government workers are enhanced.
Since its inception of Aug 18, 1932, AFGE has been guided by the words of its constitution:
"The object of this Federation shall be to promote the general welfare of government employees, promote efficiency, advance plans of improvement..." Forty years later, concern for fair treatment of women and minorities prompted AFGE convention delegates to add the following clause to that objective: "and promote the full participation of women and minorities in AFGE activities at all levels throughout the Federation."
Today AFGE remains in the forefront by advocating creative and positive solutions to shape the government into a model employer, concerned not simply with missions and efficiency, but also with the responsibility to set an example as the leading people-oriented employer in the nation. By looking back at AFGE's accomplishments and even its shortcomings, AFGE can maintain a steady course toward that goal.
AFGE has evolved into the largest labor union representing U.S. and District of Columbia government employees, with representation responsibilities for some 600,000 workers. As the character of government has evolved in America, as issues and technology have changed, as the American society has emerged from The Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Vietnam era and the Reagan years, AFGE held steadfast to the belief that high standards of government employees are two sides of the same coin. Government performance and efficiency are enhanced when the rights of its employees are protected and expanded.
Although its immediate goals have changed with the times, AFGE has always recognized that the men and women employed by government deserve respect and dignity for the service they perform. AFGE has consistently supplied strong leadership to advocate the rights of government workers through collective bargaining.