John Gage

National President
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO

As national president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, John Gage stands watch over the rights of some 600,000 federal and D.C. government employees. Gage, who leads the nation's largest union for government workers in some 1,100 Locals in the United States and overseas, has been AFGE's national president since 2003.

John Gage has long been involved in AFGE and the labor movement for more than 25 years. He has committed years of service as president of AFGE Local 1923 and as national vice president of AFGE's 4th District. Under his leadership, Local 1923 experienced robust growth, making it the largest Local within the Federation. Gage brought that same energy for organizing to his role as NVP and initiated a new organizing program familiarly called "Lunch and Learns." In fact, the new program helped the 4th District sign 6,000 members in two years. In 1985, Gage stepped down as NVP to lead the successful defense of SSA against a well-financed membership drive by another union.

Gage began working for the federal government as a disability examiner for the Social Security Administration in 1974. He quickly became involved with AFGE and served as 2nd vice president and editor of Local 1923's newsletter. He went on to serve as executive vice president before being elected president in 1982. Gage has served as chief negotiator for a number of national contracts; he describes his work as a negotiator as a labor of love. He strongly believes that good contracts and the ability to enforce them are important keys to increasing membership.

Gage is proud of the true diversity that he established among members, staff, officers and stewards within Local 1923. He maintains the same appreciation for these values as he leads the Federation.

As national president, John Gage continues to give emphasis to organizing, legal representation on behalf of Locals, and coordinated media activities. Gage believes that capitalizing on representational opportunities at the worksite, in the community and on the national scene draws attention to AFGE issues. This provides a new way of performing the most fundamental mission of AFGE representation and enables the union to strengthen each Local's ability to provide service, political mobilization, organization and communication.

Gage serves as a trustee of the National Labor College, an accredited four year college for union members and their families.

Gage was born in 1946 and graduated from Central Catholic High School, in Pittsburgh, PA. He went on to study at Wheeling Jesuit University, graduating in 1968. His career includes a brief stint as a professional baseball player with the Baltimore Orioles (1968-1969).

Gage is married to Patti McGowan, a labor lawyer for AFGE Council 220, who does pro-bono work for the Maryland Disability Law Center.