AFGE's UnionBlog Latest Comments

RE:Veterans Affairs Police Ignored?

Robert Juilfs — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:06:00 EST

Steven,

I've had nothing but bad blood between AFGE and our police agecy. Stems from a former chief who basically outlawed the unuion with the blessing from then director Robert Stott, Associate Adam Walmus and of course Chief David Burke.

Now Walmus is back as Director after all the lawsuits against Forde are over, Forde exists as a bullshit made up title and has influence with our new chief Stanley Staton.

Our VA suffered over $1.5M out of court settlements, and ir's as if it's duty as usual thee days. All thar ultimately happened was the VA paid out those sttlements with Forde not paying a cent. He maintained his GS rating and now holds a managerial position with no repsonsibilities.

So the Hell with AFGE, a bunch of malcontents who collectively violated one mandate or another and seek others who've also f---ed up and want management to make capitulations to the violators.

Yes I'm anti union, You of coirse cannot belong to AFGE being management. Consider yourself lucky.

RE:D.C. Parks and Recreations Union Testifies Against Hartsock Confirmation

Phil Glover — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:09:00 EST

It is a shame that all these Democratic candidates take our support for granted. The same is happening all over the government. We tell our members who the best candidates are for federal workers, then we get ignored, or worse run over by the same candidates.

It really needs to end.

RE:Service Line Migration OI&T

Alan Bombria — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:50:00 EST

The concern posted above from last December deserves to be addressed. My local is completely clueless on the issue.

RE:RE:RE:still fighting the AR 190-56

paul rhodes — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:18:00 EST

Shawn M Janson,can you e-mail me a copy of the new ar 190-56, i can not find it

RE:RE:RE:RE:AR 190-56

navy cop — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:19:00 EST

very true....the only reason I have had any job offers it because of my LE background and certs and why is it no one knows who can qualify for a waiver....why in AR 150-96 it say they "WILL BE a list of approved academies" yet it can't be found.....why do those with the same training put it for the waiver and some get it while others don't?

RE:Congressman Wilson's Unamerican Activity

Brent Reynolds — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:48:00 EST

It maybe wasn't the best thing for him to do but there is the thing called the right of free speech there and even at the time he did it. Was it disrespectfully? Maybe yes and maybe no. So it sounds like to me you now want to violate his constitutional rights? So isn't it more disrespectful/wrong of you to call for a citzen to lose his constitutional right to speak out even if not at the most appropriate time and place?

Besides, I think he just may be right that the President is not telling the whole truth about this. So, if only partial truth is only being told is the other part a lie? I never once heard that this guy doesn't health care reform, just not the one the President is and the democrats are trying to ram down our throats.

Brent Reynolds

Independent Voter

RE:Congressman Wilson's Unamerican Activity

Daniel Ford — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 04:12:00 EST

It seems that the party that Mr Wilson belongs to is too critical and doesn't have any plan of their own. Our President ran on change and everyone knew that he was going to change things. The fact that he has accomplished a lot. Mr Wilson had a moment we should have him go to Employee Assistance Program for anger management.

RE:AFGE Members Remember Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

Howard Egerman — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST

I remember Senator Kennedy's visit during our Legislative Conference when Bobby Harnage was President. After his speech I followed out of the Hyatt Regency in Washington, DC where he was walking with our political director of the time Marty Dunleavy.

"You know my brother,"I said and gave him Paul's name. My brother lives in Massachusetts.

I guess other people said things to him because he turned to Marty and said, "He's not joking, I do know his brother.

In August 2006 when I turned 60 my brother gave me a present I cherish, a letter from Senator Kennedy congratulating me on attaining this milestone. Although I am sure politicians may say some things in such letters just to be nice, the fact that the letter came from someone who was active in legislation backing working people my whole life such as civil rights, minimum wage, the ADA made the letter even more special.

RE:AFGE Members Remember Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

HoWARD EGERMAN — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:10:00 EST

I am in convention in Reno when I heard the news. Although expected it is hard to taKE.tHE kENNEDY FAMIy was a part of our lives almost since I was born. His work for labor and civil rights will always be with us. I wrore a blod when I first heard the news and wanted to submit something before I left Reno

RE:Comment on NCR: ARTs in Uniform While Civilian Status

Joe Doe — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:33:00 EST

As an ART supervisor I have no choice but to wear the uniform everyday whether I like it or not.

I am sympathetic to the ARTS on this issue and frankly with the lack of support from the AFGE I don't know why any ART would continue to pay dues to such an impotent organization.

RE:The Real Health Care Debate

Susan Cornell — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:01:00 EST

I get a (perverse) chuckle out of remembering the days when it was the "radical left" who carried signs and demonstrated in ways which blocked the entrance to buildings and stopped traffic back in the 1960's activist heyday. Rachel Maddow's show on MSNBC a few days ago reported on poll results which reveals that 75% of the HCR opponents get most of their "news" from Fox Noise. They also overwhelmingly believe that: a) the public option will provide abortions willy-nilly at taxpayer expense; b) all of the illegal aliens will be covered, no questions asked; c) the elderly and disabled are destined to have their plugs pulled; and d) Medicare is not a government program. Pitiful. It is scary to reflect that these people have to be allowed to vote. And breed.

RE:Local 1923 Baltimore Blocks Retired Members

xx xx — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:21:00 EST

I'm responding to your email Ralph. It sounds like your union is like the previous union that my husband and I were members in. The now president even had it put in the bylaws that you had to be actively employed to hold office That is false as it plainly says in the National Constitution the only requirement to hold office is this: You have ot be a member in good standing. ,Be a memer for 1 year of an AFGE local, and must not be a member in any labor organization not affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The National Constitution does not say that you have to be actively emplyed to hold office or anythihg like that. I think that AFGE dicriminates against the retirees really bad My husbnad is a 2nd generation member his daddy helped get the local started where we live at now. Us retirees need to pull together to get thi straightened out with AFGE.

xx xx.

RE:Theft of Union funds

xxx xxx — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 12:56:00 EST

I hate to say thi but I think its time that someone does a congreshinal investigation in to these locals. Every one of them as the previous local that my husband and I were in is doing the same thing and no one seems to care. Not the NP or the AFGE Lawyers or any one its sad too to think that there are people who are doing this nad getting away with it. I just wish that there was someone or people that would want to do something about it instead of letting it go like this. Its sad I know that and so do others but they don't want ot get involved for fear of retaliation on thier part.

SAD SAD SAD !!!

xxx xxx

RE:The Real Health Care Debate

Robert Fiore — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:52:00 EST

Right Wing learned all these tactics from the Left Wing. One should ask the opinion of all the immigrants coming to this country, who are from countries that have socilized medicine, and ask them why leave?

RE:Remarks by 5th District NVP Charlotte Flowers on the passing of AFGE Employee Margaret Smith

Lorraine Tuliano — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 04:48:00 EST

Margaret was a ray of sunshine, so giving, so happy, so full of life. She was a joy to speak with and always, always, willing to help a fellow union member in any way she could. We were her people. We love you Margaret, and we will miss your smiling face and good nature. God speed, and see you later, Lorraine

RE:NSPS – The Great Abyss

BRENDA BERRY — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:14:00 EST

I have received less than I've ever received in award money and can never get any higher than a 3 rating. I work my a-- off and never get any recognition. this NSPS is a good ole boy's system and frankly I am so tired of being miss used constantly. The pay pool willl never give women nor minorities what we deserve. I am demanding that someone do something to stop the abuse of power.

I work at Ft. Sam Houston for the Army and in the career field of Child and Youth Services. Like teachers we are the most educated personnel on the Installation and are paid less than all the other career fields.

Very Sincerely

Brenda Berry

RE:Being Held Hostage to Management's Failings

James Johnson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:51:00 EST

I along with 180 other United States Immigration Other Than Permanent

employees know what it is like to be cast aside by an out of control federal agency.

We have been in a constant battle with the former INS now CBP for the past 12 going on 13 years. Even though we won an FLRA decision and two arbitration awards the CBO refuses to honor the award.

RE:Being Held Hostage to Management's Failings

Dee Wagner — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:19:00 EST

yES BUT WHAT IF YOUR LIFE WOULD BE MADE MISERABLE IF YOU JOINED THE UNION AND IT WAS MADE CLEAR AT YOUR HIRE THAT JOINING TH UNION WAS NOT A FAVORABLE THING

RE:FERS Employees: Forget your sickleave

hairy dick — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:28:00 EST

Michael D. Vajdos is a complete jerkoff ! ( Look at his spelling/grammar )

All of us FERS employees knew about the sick leave policy ( except him ) !

RE:RE:Retirees in AFGE

anonymous anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 05:39:00 EST

You are wrong if you think that you have to be actively employed to be an officer in the union. According to the Natonal Constitution that was adopted in 2006 the only requirement is that you have ot be a member in good standing,also a member for 1 year and you can't be a member of a labor oganization not affiliated with AFL-CIO. Alot of these unions are trying ot be autonomous which is not a good thing neither. If you are a retired member and stay with your union then you are a full fledge member nad you can run for office if you want too. Back in 2003 at the convention it was adopted that if you got out of the union and later wanted to get back in you cuold do that but that you were considered an affiliate which means you can't hold office,vote ect. But if you stayed in then you're a regular member just RETIRED. Our former union is trying to do this to the retirees but she doesn't have a clue or doesn't care. The president that is. SPAN class=error>

Anonymous