AFGE Local 2338 President Kevin Ellis was recognized with the Augusta Y. Thomas Courage Award for his moral perseverance and exceptional leadership in the face of adversity.
The Augusta Y. Thomas Courage Award celebrates individuals with the bravery to uphold their values and principles even at the expense of political or professional gain.
Ellis extends thanks to his network of peers and coworkers for their support and encouragement.
“Courage never stands alone,” he said.
Ellis has been a member of AFGE for over 20 years. Born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Mo., he has lived a life dedicated to civil service, first as a U.S. army veteran and later as a housekeeper in the Pershing VA Medical Center. He was elected president of AFGE Local 2338 and has served in that position ever since.
While working as a housekeeper at the VA, Ellis and his coworkers have endured needle pricks, blood spills, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. As president, Ellis has helped secure an 8% pay increase for his fellow housekeepers as compensation for handling dangerous biohazards. He went on to secure the same benefits for housekeepers in Leavenworth, Kansas, Little Rock, Arkansas, Seattle, Washington, and Marion, Illinois.
In addition, Ellis has fought for his members, securing $25,000 in backpay for an employee facing unjustified personnel action, $340,000 in damages and five years of back pay for an employee related to safety issues, and an additional $1.3 million for about 10 more employees because of safety violations.
But he is not done yet. Citing years and millions of dollars’ worth of litigations, Ellis said the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to clean up the General Counsel, Whistleblower Protection, Equal Employment, and Medical Inspector offices. He calls for more leadership accountability and vows to fight for justice wherever he sees injustice.
His leadership, however, has not been without its hardships. Throughout his career, Ellis has dealt with backlash for being a whistleblower, calling out systemic racism and discrimination within the VA. Ellis has tirelessly advocated for the rights of his coworkers in the face of removal attempts by the agency, demonstrating the integrity and perseverance that earned him the courage award.
AFGE is immensely proud of Ellis and the work he has done and has yet to do.
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