Find Out Why NPS Workers Joined AFGE
James Jones - National Park Service
Hugh Evans - National Park Service
Mark Cochran, AFGE Council 270 President
I joined AFGE as a seasonal because I wanted to contribute to those who support and fight for the rights of dedicated and hard-working civil servants who spend their careers preserving and protecting America's cultural, historical, and natural resources. Now, as a Union leader, I get to utilize my experience as a Union member to advocate for my colleagues when they need it the most.
David Fitzpatrick, AFGE Council 270 Secretary-Treasurer
My government career started with The Department of Veterans Affairs I transferred to the National Park Service in 1999.
Working in the maintenance division at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. I was elected to serve as AFGE Local 2058 President. Additionally, I am one of the founding members of the first AFGE NPS Council. Today I serve as the elected Secretary Treasure for the Council.
Council 270 represents over two thousand NPS employees in the Northeast Region covering seven states. AFGE is my union family. Our members are my sisters and brothers. Our union assists its members in all facets concerning working conditions at The National Park Service.
AFGE has many levels of representation. Local, District, Council and our National Office.
AFGE is always standing side by side with our members.
I am proud to call myself a card-carrying Member of the Largest Federal Employee Union in the United States.
Michael Twardy- National Park Service
My NPS career started as an intern in 2003 at Saratoga NHP and a year later as a volunteer doing living history at Saratoga. At that time, I went back to college to pursue a BA in American history and a MA in Civil War history. I decided to quit my fulltime job I had and become a seasonal Park Guide in interpretation at Saratoga NHP from 2005-2006. After 2 years I headed to Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS as a seasonal Park Guide in interpretation. In 2010, I realized my dream of being a fulltime Park Guide, when I was hired permanently at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt NHS.
In May of 2024 realizing my park had no union representation since the last shop steward retired before covid, I decided to investigate what a shop steward did. In June of last year, I took the job because I believe in AFGE and the power of organized labor. I believe its important for the health of the National Park Service to have strong representation as a worker. As the Shop Steward for AFGE Local 3432 I represent twenty-two members from all divisions within the park, which has grown from 3 members in the last year at Roosevelt-Vanderbilt-Martin Van Buren NHS. AFGE represents every dues paying member interest not just nationally but fights for workers’ rights on the local level, which is the grassroots of any organization. My motto is strength in numbers.
