AFGE Celebrates Government Workers during Public Service Recognition Week
May 06, 2024
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The Insider
May 5-11 is Public Service Recognition Week. As the largest union representing federal and D.C. government workers, AFGE is proud and honored to help lift the voices of government employees who touch the lives of every American with their service to our country.
We thank TSA officers who keep our skies safe, VA employees who take care of our veterans, SSA employees who make sure our seniors’ Social Security benefits arrive on time, BOP officers who keep the most dangerous criminals behind bars, food inspectors who protect our food supply, EPA employees who keep the air and water clean, DoD employees who support our war fighters, and the list goes on.
Since our inception in 1932, AFGE’s mission has been to improve the lives of government workers and make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs. Whether fighting for fair compensation or improved working conditions, our union is a major source of support for government employees who provide vital services to the American people.
This year we sat down with several public servants and asked them about their jobs and what kind of support they need from the public. At AFGE, every week is Public Service Recognition Week!
Darrell English, Transportation Security Agency
Darrell is a Lead Transportation Security Officer at Chicago Midway Airport. He’s also president of AFGE Local 777 representing TSA officers in Wisconsin and Illinois.
How long have you been working at TSA and what’s it like working for the agency?
I've been working for TSA for over 19 years. Working for TSA has been the most challenging job I've had the pleasure of serving. TSA's continuous commitment to adapting to daily threats creates a demanding environment that requires continuously adjusting its screening procedures for the traveling public.
How does your job help the American people and your local community?
As a local president and a Lead Officer for the TSA, my job duties include ensuring that the general public can travel by air safely for business and personal needs. Our members inspect passengers' credentials, baggage, and personal items before entering the airport’s secured area, ensuring that individuals can travel safely to their respective destinations.
How do TSOs deal with the workload especially during the summer? Do you have enough people to carry out this important mission?
For the longest time, TSA has had issues with officer retention. After COVID-19, it became even more an issue. Offices during the summertime have found it very stressful and difficult to take time off for their families and personal needs. With this being said, AFGE union leaders and TSA political supporters in 2023 came through with a historic achievement that provided a new pay scale for officers. This has halted the high turnover ratio with TSA and put members on a competitive pathway like their counterparts. It has also assisted in the staffing issues that have plagued the agency during high-peak travel seasons. Even with this change, our members will still have challenges in staffing until the new officers are up to speed on all agency screening procedures.
What doesn’t the public know about the work of TSOs?
The general public knows very little about TSA’s wide range of responsibilities and its networking of resources. In the past years, the agency has committed resources to assist the public in understanding our purpose. Our members find it essential that the general public is provided with better information to understand the screening process. This will reduce the number of personal items being inspected or denied and the wait time for screening.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is working with the general public and gaining mutual understanding and respect that allows us to successfully provide the necessary security levels for screening.
How long have you been an AFGE member and why did you decide to join?
I’ve been an active member of AFGE for over 15 years. I got involved with the union because TSA, the newest federal agency established, did not have a union and, at first, was not allowed to have collective bargaining rights, despite the overwhelming numbers of officers wanting it. Before being unionized, I witnessed many unfair working decisions against officers. This pushed me to stand up for my fellow officers to become active and fight to become a unionized agency, which we did and established representation and equality in the workplace.
How did you get involved in the union and what keeps you going?
I’ve become involved in unions after understanding the economic advantages and work stability they can produce. Being an active president and witnessing the struggles and triumphs AFGE has endured keeps me motivated. When first established, our agency was not provided with collective bargaining rights, but now we have them along with a competitive pay scale, all because of AFGE.
How does union membership benefit your community?
Union membership benefits our community by providing safe jobs, fair working salaries, and benefits for all employees, allowing them to enjoy travel benefits and work-life adjustments. The more our membership increases, the stronger working families are.
Dennis Smith, Washington Aqueduct
Dennis is president of Local 1041 representing Army Corps of Engineers employees in Washington, D.C. He’s a dedicated federal employee who works extra hours to keep his facility open while taking care of his family and fulfilling his duty as local president.
How long have you been working at Washington Aqueduct and what is it like working there?
I've been with the Washington Aqueduct since November 2010. Working here is both an honor and a privilege due to its remarkable history. We supply safe, cost-effective drinking water that meets or exceeds EPA standards to the District of Columbia, Arlington County in Virginia, and other areas in northern Virginia.
How does your job help the American people?
Our primary task is to provide safe drinking water that is free from harmful pathogens and disease-causing bacteria, at a cost-effective price. The water is pleasant tasting and meets or exceeds the stringent Water Quality Standards enforced by the EPA.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part is the rich history of the Aqueduct and the dedication of our team. We operate tirelessly, 24/7, in all weather conditions, driven by a strong sense of pride and commitment to our mission.
What might the public not know about your work?
Many are unaware that we operate round the clock to ensure the uninterrupted provision of drinking water. The Washington Aqueduct is a federally owned water plant that never closes, even during government shutdowns.
Do you have enough personnel to carry out your mission?
While we are always in need of skilled tradespeople and other dedicated staff, we remain committed to ensuring safe drinking water for all.
How long have you been a member of AFGE and why did you join?
I've been a dues-paying member of AFGE since I was hired in 2010. I joined to support the significant benefits unions provide, such as fair working hours, sick leave, and overall support. "A body of One" encapsulates the spirit of the union—if one part suffers, everyone supports them.
How did you get involved in the union and what motivates you to continue?
I became involved when I was hired and was elected president of my local in 2015. My motivation comes from the history and impact of unions in advocating for fair and just treatment for workers. Balancing my demanding job and union responsibilities with family life in Texas is challenging, but I'm committed to both.
Anything else you’d like to add about this year’s Public Service Recognition Week?
I am deeply honored by this recognition and share it with my fellow union officers and members. I encourage all union members to engage actively in supporting and sustaining our collective goals. Solidarity is key.
Paula Schelling Soldner, Food Safety and Inspection Service
Paula has been an FSIS inspector since 1987. Stationed in Wisconsin, her job is to prevent foodborne illness and ensure that meat, poultry and eggs produced in the state are safe for public consumption. She’s also president of the AFGE National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals.
How does your job help the American people?
We are here to ensure that every plant under federal inspection meets the regulatory requirements that are set. Protecting the food supply that taxpayers eat and prepare for their families.
What is the best part of your job?
To serve the public without any recognition. As public service to a tax-paying public, we ensure that the food products they consume are safe and wholesome.
What doesn’t the public know about the work of food inspectors?
They are people that work to ensure that food products are produced in a safe and wholesome environment. The work performed by the inspectors is work on slaughter floors and processing plants that are cold, hot and sweaty conditions, not an ideal environment to perform inspectional duties.
Do you have enough people to carry out this important mission?
FSIS continuously works short staffed. They have implemented incentives to attract hard working individuals without any success to fill the vacancies. That said, many areas throughout the country work tirelessly to ensure that food produced is safe and wholesome.
How long have you been an AFGE member and why did you decide to join?
I have been an AFGE member since 1997. 1997 was the first opportunity for me to join the federation. I have always had a passion to serve and to help others. For that reason, the federation has allowed me to learn and grow from many experiences. As of June 2019, I serve as the highest-ranking Union Representative for the bargaining unit employees that are employed at FSIS.
James Jones, National Park Service
James works for the Blue Ridge Parkway in Blowing Rock, N.C. He’s a maintenance mechanic on the Moses Cone Estate, maintaining 25 miles of historic carriage trails using different types of heavy equipment. He also does preservation work on various structures and implements.
How long have you been working at NPS and what is it like working there?
I have worked for the NPS for 22 years. It's great being able to work outside in a beautiful environment taking care of one of America's treasures.
How does your job help the American people?
My job helps the American people by providing a scenic place for them to enjoy the outdoors. The Moses Cone Estate offers 25 miles of carriage roads for horseback riding and hiking. There are also two lakes on the estate that offer fishing and excellent wildlife viewing. The Cone Manor is a 23,000 square foot colonial revival mansion that visitors can tour and interpret what life was like for the Cones, during the first half of the twentieth century. The Parkway is also the most visited NPS Unit in the nation, hosting over 15 million visitors each year.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is maintaining the carriage trails for the public to relax and enjoy.
What might the public not know about your work?
I think the public doesn't know that the annual NPS operating budget is roughly over $3 billion dollars. The agency is severely underfunded. We are chronically understaffed, and our fleet of vehicles and equipment is very difficult to replace with new equipment. Yet, we are expected to maintain the busiest park in the nation under these conditions.
How long have you been a member of AFGE and why did you join?
I have been a member of AFGE Local 446 since 2021. I joined because I was a member of another union, and we merged with AFGE. I also serve as vice president of the Blue Ridge Parkway unit.
How did you get involved in the union and what motivates you to continue?
I joined AFGE because I believe in the union's cause and mission. I value fairness and equality in the workplace. I also believe that management has to be held accountable through collective bargaining and enforcing the contract.
Anything else you’d like to add about this year’s Public Service Recognition Week?I would like to thank all federal employees for the hard work they do to serve all Americans. I know much of our work goes unnoticed and is oftentimes not appreciated. Federal employees are the backbone of American society, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
