FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2006
August 29, 2006
Jemarion Jones
(202) 639-6405
(202) 639-6405
AFGE Concludes Successful Run at Blacks in Government Conference
(WASHINGTON)—Government employees looking for career enhancement resources and information on how new policies will impact their workplaces gained additional insight into these topics during a series of innovative workshops presented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) during the annual Blacks In Government (BIG) National Training Conference.
The AFGE workshops covered a variety of topics including leadership coaching, the reorganization of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the dismantlement of the civil service system through programs such as the Department of Defense’s National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Max HR initiative. AFGE workshop presenters included National Vice President Derrick Thomas, Membership and Organization Department Director Sharon Pinnock, and representatives from the Women’s and Fair Practices Department.
“The workshops were designed to help BIG members move up the career ladder at their agencies and provide information on how government policies will impact their workplaces,” said Thomas. “We hope that attendees left the workshops feeling empowered and more informed about their options and rights when working for local, state and federal governments.”
This year’s conference, held in New York Aug. 21-25, also marked BIG’s 30th anniversary. Founded by African-American federal employees, BIG is a non-profit organization committed to improving public service through promoting equity, excellence and opportunity in the workplace. AFGE has partnered with BIG on several projects.
In addition to workshop presentations, AFGE representatives also were on hand during the exhibitor’s showcase to offer information about AFGE membership and how the union works on behalf of government employees.
“By operating a booth at this year’s BIG conference, we were able to talk directly to BIG members about what the union has accomplished on behalf of government employees and why now is a critical time to have union representation in light of the changes the administration is trying to make to the civil service system and the EEOC,” said Thomas.
AFGE hopes to present more workshops at future BIG training conferences.
For more information about AFGE, please visit www.afge.org.
The AFGE workshops covered a variety of topics including leadership coaching, the reorganization of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the dismantlement of the civil service system through programs such as the Department of Defense’s National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Max HR initiative. AFGE workshop presenters included National Vice President Derrick Thomas, Membership and Organization Department Director Sharon Pinnock, and representatives from the Women’s and Fair Practices Department.
“The workshops were designed to help BIG members move up the career ladder at their agencies and provide information on how government policies will impact their workplaces,” said Thomas. “We hope that attendees left the workshops feeling empowered and more informed about their options and rights when working for local, state and federal governments.”
This year’s conference, held in New York Aug. 21-25, also marked BIG’s 30th anniversary. Founded by African-American federal employees, BIG is a non-profit organization committed to improving public service through promoting equity, excellence and opportunity in the workplace. AFGE has partnered with BIG on several projects.
In addition to workshop presentations, AFGE representatives also were on hand during the exhibitor’s showcase to offer information about AFGE membership and how the union works on behalf of government employees.
“By operating a booth at this year’s BIG conference, we were able to talk directly to BIG members about what the union has accomplished on behalf of government employees and why now is a critical time to have union representation in light of the changes the administration is trying to make to the civil service system and the EEOC,” said Thomas.
AFGE hopes to present more workshops at future BIG training conferences.
For more information about AFGE, please visit www.afge.org.
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