Union members are happier than workers who don’t belong to a union. As many AFGE members who used to work at a place where there is no union representation can tell you, it is so much better to have a union.
Money-saving discounts
As an AFGE member, you have access to all kinds of member discounts backed by the collective strength of over 10 million members of AFL-CIO unions. By using one or two of the programs, you save as much as your annual dues. Here are a few examples of the discounts you’re entitled to as an AFGE member.
Voice at work
The right to negotiate for a better life is crucial in a democracy, and when you are a union member, you have that right. As an AFGE member, you have a voice at work and the right to bargain collectively with your employer for a fair contract that affects your overall quality of life. That’s because a contract often includes things like work hours, overtime, sick leave, annual leave, parental leave, promotion and transfer, health and safety, discipline, grievance procedures, and so on.
Without a union, you have no voice or influence on any of these important issues. Without a union, your career completely depends on the whims of your manager, who can fire you for any or no reason. That’s why being a union member is so empowering.
Political clout
Our union is the largest and most influential federal and D.C. employee union in the United States, and we are growing stronger every day. When we stand together in unions, our voice is louder, and we can achieve so much more than we can individually. That’s because there is power in numbers. With our collective voice, we work with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to make sure we have the resources we need to do our jobs serving the American people.
We regularly reach out to members of Congress to make our workplaces safer and more efficient. Our Bureau of Prisons members, for example, successfully worked with members of Congress to provide life-saving pepper spray to protect themselves when attacked by inmates. We also lobby the White House, work in agencies, and litigate in court. By standing together with your coworkers, you have a stronger voice when defending your pay, retirement, and job security.
Making history
As an AFGE member, you get to help shape the future of this country. You have a chance to become a shop steward and/or local officer to represent your co-workers and fight for justice and equality. You get to meet and be inspired by like-minded unionists and advocates for democracy, workers’ rights, and civil rights in and outside the labor movement. You get to help make America a better place for all. You help make history. How cool is that?
Click here to join our movement today. If you already have, ask your co-workers to join. Our voice is louder when more people join. So join us today!
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Members of AFGE’s DEFCON Steering Group met along with AFGE staff and elected leaders to discuss ways to better serve employees throughout the DoD in the year ahead.
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