The 10th episode of AFGE’s new series, The Activist, highlighting our union members who have stepped up to help make a difference in the lives of their colleagues and our government.
Dave Bump is AFGE Local 2157 second vice president at the Veterans Benefit Administration in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in a union family and joined AFGE because he wanted to have a voice on the job. He has been an AFGE member for 22 years.
Dave first got involved in the union when he worked in the Milwaukee regional office, first as a steward. When the local vice president for VBA was retiring, he was asked to fulfill the rest of his term before being elected to more terms. Once he moved to Portland, he got involved in the union the same way, by volunteering first and then getting elected.
Being a union officer allows him to meet new people, travel to help different union members he represents, and provide great diversity in his days since he also does a lot of work for the National VA Council as a national representative.
Listen to Dave talk about his job at the VBA and how it helps veterans:
AFGE has scored a pair of victories in legal challenges over the Trump administration’s policy requiring federal job applicants to pledge their loyalty to the administration and attempts by DHS to dismantle FEMA by illegally slashing half of the agency’s workforce.
Months of advocacy by AFGE and other veterans allies paid off last week when lawmakers achieved enough signatures to compel a vote in the U.S. House on legislation to ensure veterans receive all of the compensation they are owed for their military service.
Members of Congress are joining AFGE and other national teachers unions in calling on the Trump administration to stop its unlawful dismantling of the Education Department.