2018 will go down in history as one of the toughest – if not the toughest – years to be a union member.
Our union has faced life-threatening challenges before, but these threats are different. We have politicians in the White House, the Senate, and the House who are hell bent on wiping us out. We have never had our union contracts unilaterally annulled, our union volunteers kicked out of offices, our work fighting injustice severely restricted or denied.
That’s why this national convention is extremely important. The stakes have never been higher – the very existence of our union, our jobs, our communities, and our country.
Together, the 1,500 delegates to this convention will send a message to all politicians bent on destroying us that the labor movement will never go away – not now, not ever. Not on our watch.
What to expect at this convention
We gather for our national convention every three years. Our conventions are a chance for delegates from AFGE locals across the country to discuss the vision for our union, the challenges we face, and the direction we need to go. This year, we will have two workshops to help us broaden debate and discussion about proposed resolutions and to draft comprehensive policy for our union.
- District/Council/Local meetings
Districts, Councils, and Locals will get to meet to discuss issues, challenges, and how to tackle them.
Our members will discuss and vote on various issues including our union’s structure and funding in response to politicians’ attempts at union busting.
Several Councils have their officer elections at the national convention. The ones administered by the General Counsel Office are CIS, TSA, Coast Guard, Marines, AAFES, Navy SE, Census, and DeCa.
- National Officer elections
Every three years, we elect national officers – National President, National Secretary-Treasurer, and National Vice President for Women’s and Fair Practices departments. The election will take place August 15 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. The results will be announced in the afternoon.
Check out our union’s various departments’ exhibit tables to learn more about how we have helped/can help you grow and strengthen our union.
- AFGE Pride, YOUNG meetings
Our union is a union for government workers from all backgrounds. The American people we serve are diverse, and we reflect that.
This year, our members will hear from four amazing labor leaders and champions: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, U.S. Representative from Nevada Jacky Rosen, Unite Here President D. Taylor, and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees President Lee Saunders. Prepare to be inspired!
Stay connected
There will be a lot going on at our convention, which runs from Aug. 13 to 17. Our Convention App is the best way to keep up to date with the latest news and events.
Here’s how to download the app:
- Open the email invitation you received from “AFGE App Download” (sent to the email you used to register for this convention).
- Click Download the App to be taken to the App Store, where you can install the app on your phone (members without an iPhone or Android phone can skip this step).
- Return to the email invitation and click Verify Account, then click Open App.
Having trouble? Visit one of the App Stations for help
Are you on social media?
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are a great way to amplify our voices. We’re asking you to use the hashtag #FightToWin2018 for all your convention-related posts.
See you in Las Vegas!