The second 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.
Rachel Shonfield is president of the AFGE EEOC Council 216 representing EEOC employees nationwide. She works at the EEOC office in Miami and has been an AFGE member for over 25 years.
Rachel joined AFGE because she saw what good work the steward was doing in the office to stand up when management wasn’t listening to the employees and to ensure that everybody was being treated fairly.
“Being an AFGE member has changed my life because I’ve gotten connected to people around the country who have become my family,” she explained. “And when I get to go to conferences, it energizes me that so many people from so many agencies are working to make the federal government a better workplace.”
Founded in 1965, the EEOC is the primary agency that enforces laws that prevent discrimination in the workplace. Without the EEOC workforce doing their work, people could lose their jobs or won’t even get hired in the first place due to discrimination.
Listen to Rachel talk about how her job helps the American people and her local community.
Efforts to overturn President Trump’s pay freeze and provide all federal employees with a cost-of-living increase next year are building steam on Capitol Hill ahead of crucial budget negotiations set to resume after the midterm elections in November.
AFGE and other unions who challenged the Trump administration’s illegal mass firing of federal workers during the 2025 government shutdown have reached a settlement agreement in the case that formally ends the termination effort.
AFGE is urging lawmakers to support new bipartisan legislation that is needed to address persistent shortages of federal workers who are critical to ensuring the safety of our nation’s railroads.