Benefits for AFGE Members

When you join the union, you have access to these AFGE benefits. These benefits are backed by the collective strength of over 10-million members of AFL-CIO unions. By using one or two of the programs, many members save as much as their annual dues.

These Money-Saving Benefits are Available Only to AFGE Members:

AFGE Commuter Benefit

AFGE wants to help members save money, manage their transit expenses, improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and conserve energy. And we can do all of that through the new AFGE Commuter Benefit.

AFGE has partnered with VPSI, a company already working with a significant number of federal employees across the country who use VPSI's commuter vanpool program. But only AFGE members can get a $100 savings bond on the 1st anniversary of the date that they join a VPSI vanpool, as well as information and assistance on all qualified mass transit alternatives.

The foundation of this program is a federal program called "Commuter Choice" established by an Executive Order. The program enables individuals to set aside a portion of their salary, before taxes, for commuting costs associated with qualified transportation, such as mass-transit and vanpools.

The recently enacted Stimulus Bill, effective March 1, 2009, directs National Capital Area Federal Departments and Agencies to provide up to $230 per month to their employees as a transportation subsidy. The amount of the subsidy depends on each individual employee's actual commuting expenses for subway, bus and vanpool related costs. Employees who use a combination of these commuting methods, such as taking a metro bus to a subway, could add the combined costs up to $230 per month for reimbursement by the newly approved transit subsidy limit.

The Commuter Benefits Program provides several options. An AFGE member could contact VPSI and provide information about the location of his/her home, and his or her workplace destination, and VPSI would determine if there was an existing vanpool that would suit the needs of the AFGE member. If so, the AFGE member could then join the existing vanpool, and contact their agency representatives to determine the exact amount that their agency would reimburse them.

If there is no existing vanpool that can serve the AFGE member, another option would be the creation of a new vanpool that could do so. VPSI supplies the vans and the logistical support, including assistance with insurance, vehicle maintenance, etc. The van itself would be leased to a vanpool member-driver. The driver calculates the monthly expenses, and the vanpool riders would divide the costs amongst themselves. They in turn would be eligible to receive a transit subsidy up to $230.00 per month from their Department/Agency.

In addition to the transit subsidy benefit available to the riders, the driver would be riding for free, and maintain possession of the van on weekends, federal holidays, etc.

VPSI Inc. would help to assemble commuters with common transportation routes, and assist with the establishment of new vanpools.

VPSI vanpools already exist in many locations across the USA. They will be happy to discuss vanpool arrangements with any AFGE member.

And in addition to the aforementioned, VPSI will be offering AFGE members who join one of their vanpools a $100.00 US savings bond on the 1st anniversary of the date that they join a VPSI vanpool.

_{updated 4/4/09}

Access: This benefit is only available to members of AFGE. If you are a member of AFGE, please login to the Members Only section. If you are not a member, but would like to find out how to become one, please visit the Join AFGE section.

Do you see a mistake or inaccuracy in this page? Please report it.