FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 03, 2009
March 03, 2009
Enid Doggett
(202) 639-6422
(202) 639-6422
AFGE Congratulates John Berry, Obama Pick for OPM Director
(Washington) - The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation’s largest union of federal employees, today applauded President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of John Berry to be Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
“John Berry is the perfect choice for the position of OPM Director. He has the right experience in both policy and in politics. We look forward to working with him as he takes on the task of revitalizing the civil service – which been attacked for eight years by the Bush Administration.” said John Gage, AFGE National President.
AFGE worked closely with Berry throughout his service in the federal government, particularly when he worked for now-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
“Clearly, Hoyer’s legislative leadership on federal workforce issues is unparalleled; Berry’s work on federal employee issues for Hoyer required him to be an expert in virtually everything that concerns federal workers and retirees. In particular, during the development of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), which set up the locality pay system for General Schedule employees, Berry was the primary negotiator on behalf of the Congress and won accolades for his professionalism from all sides,” said Beth Moten, AFGE Legislative and Political Director.
After a particularly tense negotiating session, a senior Democratic committee staffer observed that without John Berry, the legislation could never be enacted.
AFGE also cited Berry’s service at both the Department of the Interior and at the National Zoo. “His work with federal employees and their unions to support the agencies’ missions has been a model for every federal department and agency,” said Gage.
“John Berry is the perfect choice for the position of OPM Director. He has the right experience in both policy and in politics. We look forward to working with him as he takes on the task of revitalizing the civil service – which been attacked for eight years by the Bush Administration.” said John Gage, AFGE National President.
AFGE worked closely with Berry throughout his service in the federal government, particularly when he worked for now-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
“Clearly, Hoyer’s legislative leadership on federal workforce issues is unparalleled; Berry’s work on federal employee issues for Hoyer required him to be an expert in virtually everything that concerns federal workers and retirees. In particular, during the development of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), which set up the locality pay system for General Schedule employees, Berry was the primary negotiator on behalf of the Congress and won accolades for his professionalism from all sides,” said Beth Moten, AFGE Legislative and Political Director.
After a particularly tense negotiating session, a senior Democratic committee staffer observed that without John Berry, the legislation could never be enacted.
AFGE also cited Berry’s service at both the Department of the Interior and at the National Zoo. “His work with federal employees and their unions to support the agencies’ missions has been a model for every federal department and agency,” said Gage.
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