How to Access Member Benefits:

This benefit is only available to members of AFGE. If you are a member of AFGE, please login to the Members Only section. If you are not a member, but would like to find out how to become one, please visit the Join AFGE section.

AFGE recommends Union Liability Insurance for Union leaders. The policy provides professional liability coverage that is specifically written and designed for the risks and exposures faced by Locals. To help protect the officers and staff, the AFGE national office has had this coverage in place for over 15 years.

The Union Liability policy provides five distinct coverages to protect Locals and their Officers in the performance of their operations. The protections are:

• Duty of Fair Representation
• Employment Practices Liability
• Financial Management of the Union
• Personal Injury coverage
• And Individual Labor Leader coverage

Federal Law, and some union bylaws, prohibit the union from defending officers accused of dishonesty or personal wrongdoing. Under this law, labor union leaders must prove their innocence at their own expense before the union can reimburse them. With the high cost of a lawyer today, you can face personal bankruptcy just for doing your job.

Union Liability Insurance Protects Against Allegations of:

• Wrongful dismissal, discharge or termination of employment
• Harassment claims, including sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims
• Discrimination claims, including claims based on age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or preference, pregnancy or disability
• Retaliation, including lockouts
• Employment-related misrepresentation(s) to an employee or applicant for employment with the union
• Employment-related libel, slander, humiliation, defamation or invasion of privacy
• Wrongful failure to employ or promote
• Wrongful deprivation of career opportunity, wrongful demotion or negligent employee evaluation, including the giving of negative or defamatory statements in connection with an employee reference
• Wrongful discipline
• Failure to provide or enforce adequate or consistent policies and procedures relating to any wrongful employment practice
• Violation of any individual's civil rights
• Third party discrimination liability coverage is available by endorsement to protect unions against damaging lawsuits from outside parties or consistent policies and procedures relating to any wrongful employment practice
• Violation of any individual's civil rights
• Third party discrimination liability coverage is available by endorsement to protect unions against damaging lawsuits from outside parties

Other Key Features:

• Policyholder can select counsel because we recognize the importance of allowing our insureds to work with their own de­fense attorneys
• Duty to defend coverage available
• Ability to offer up to a $5 million limit of insurance. The union, not the insurance company, makes the claim decisions
• Spousal liability, including domestic partnerships and civil unions
• Reimbursement of witness expenses
• Coverage for claim expenses as a result of suits seeking non-monetary relief