Since 1985, the first week of May has been designated Public Service Recognition Week to recognize the millions of workers who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees.
This year’s celebration comes at a time when being a public sector worker is more challenging than ever. Federal employees in particular have faced mass layoffs, the closure or downsizing of many agencies and programs, and attacks on their labor rights and other workplace benefits.
Federal employees serve our country in so many ways, and most go unnoticed for their efforts. That’s why it’s especially important to recognize and honor the dedicated public servants who work tirelessly every day to maintain our government programs and services and to ensure the safety and prosperity of everyone who calls this country home.
“Every federal employee performs critical work that serves the public, from claims representatives processing retirement and disability benefits at the Social Security Administration to NASA engineers planning our next space flight, and they deserve our support and admiration,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “In honor of this year’s Public Service Recognition Week, I call on all Americans to show your support for the employees who deliver for you and for our country every day.”
In addition to Public Service Recognition Week, the first week of May also has been declared National Correctional Officers Week (May 3-9), Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4-8), and National Nurses Week (May 6-12).
AFGE extends our appreciation to every correctional officer working at the Bureau of Prisons and other law enforcement agencies, every teacher educating the children of our military service members working stateside or stationed overseas, and the skilled nurses working at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Health Agency, the Bureau of Prisons, and other agencies.
AFGE locals representing 250,000 Department of Defense workers across the country are mounting an aggressive campaign in response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s illegal action to terminate most of our collective bargaining agreements.
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Federal employees serve our country in so many ways, and most go unnoticed for their efforts. That’s why it’s especially important to recognize and honor the dedicated public servants who work tirelessly every day.
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Since 1949, May has been recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time set aside to raise awareness of mental health issues, decrease the stigma attached to mental illness, and encourage people to take care of their mental and emotional well-being.
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