As a federal employee and AFGE union activist, Matt Albucher is on the front lines of the battle being waged daily against working people in America.
Matt works at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), whose mission is to fight and prevent illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Every day, EEOC workers encounter employers who flout those laws, while employees are scared to speak up for their rights out of fear of being retaliated against.
“The vast majority of my friends who work in nonunionized workplaces are abused. They work 60, 70 hours a week and are paid for 40 hours and are really being taken advantage of by these employers and corporations who don’t respect our rights,” Matt says.
In addition to serving as a delegate and steward at AFGE Local 3504 in Chicago, Matt is a member of AFGE’s YOUNG program, which stands for Young Organizing Unionists for the Next Generation. He says younger workers especially need to stand up and have their voices be heard.
“I think it’s really important at this time in our history for people to stand up and stand for working people (before) all of our rights as people who work for a living are taken away,” Matt says.
Matt shares his story in the latest documentary produced by AFGE, which is the exclusive representative for all bargaining unit employees at the EEOC. The documentary series is part of AFGE’s year-long campaign, “I Am AFGE,” to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of the women and men who work for them every day.
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