American Federation of Government Employees Reelects National Officers
June 22, 2022
Union’s top three officers reelected by delegates to AFGE’s 42nd National Convention.
Read More
Blaylock’s legacy was safeguarding our rights
October 15, 2018
Categories:
The Insider
Ken Blaylock, a native of North Carolina, began his civil service career in 1954 as a plumber at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. He joined AFGE Local 997 and quickly became a union activist, progressing through the ranks until he was elected national president at the 1976 convention.
Passage of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was one of Blaylock’s greatest achievements as AFGE national president. The Act expanded collective bargaining rights for government workers and created the Federal Labor Relations Authority. In codifying these rights in law, rather than relying on presidential executive orders, AFGE protected federal employees when anti-union administrations sought to destroy their rights.
“If we did not have the labor relations program in the federal sector locked into law, under this administration we’d be totally out of business,” Blaylock told the Washington Post in 1986.
Blaylock believed in constant organizing, developing strong locals, and educating local officers to handle worksite problems.
Blaylock was known for his natural eloquence and his success in raising AFGE’s union profile nationally and internationally. A Southern progressive, he took a brave, progressive stand for international union and human rights and built relationships with leaders in the civil rights movement. He emphasized grassroots political action, and under his leadership AFGE members were encouraged to get involved in the issues of the day – including people’s struggles in South Africa and Central America.
Blaylock was also successful in increasing diversity in the union from top to bottom and is credited with laying the groundwork for the success of future AFGE presidents.
Following his term as national president, Blaylock was elected to two three-year terms as District 5 national vice president. He last spoke to a large AFGE audience at the 2013 National Leadership Meeting, where he discussed the history of AFGE’s struggles and achievements. During the gathering he was honored for his service and leadership of the federation.
President Emeritus Blaylock is survived by his loving family and friends, and deeply remembered by countless AFGE trade unionists. His memorial page can be viewed here.
Recent AFGE News:
What to Expect at AFGE’s 42nd Convention
June 13, 2022
Here's what to expect at AFGE's upcoming 42nd National Convention.
Read More
AFGE EPA Council Kicks Off Campaign for New Contract
June 13, 2022
AFGE Council 238 leaders and members gathered for a virtual town hall meeting June 7 to kick off their campaign for a new contract.
Read More
