FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 07, 2021
April 07, 2021
Contact:
Tim Kauffman
202-374-6491
[email protected]
EPA Workers’ Rights Restored Under Agency-Union Agreement That Reverses Changes Made By Previous Administration
Categories:
EPA, Contracts
2007 contract provisions largely restored under interim agreement
WASHINGTON – The American Federation of Government Employees has reached agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency to restore workplace rights and protections for the 7,500 employees the union represents and eliminate anti-worker contract changes that were implemented under the previous administration.
“This is a huge victory for all of the EPA employees that AFGE represents,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “This agreement eliminates anti-worker contract provisions that were forced on us by the previous administration and puts us on a path to fully restore all of the workplace rights, protections, and benefits that employees are entitled to.”
Effective today, April 7, provisions in the previously ratified 2007 contract between AFGE and EPA will now govern negotiated grievance and arbitration procedures, official time, union office space, and employee performance evaluations. Two articles from the contract ratified in 2020 governing work schedules and telework will remain in effect, although employees will be able to remain on maximum telework in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Click here for the signed agreement.
In the coming weeks, AFGE and the EPA will review other aspects of the previously ratified 2007 contract to determine what provisions will be enforced as part of the interim agreement, which will remain in place until the full contract is renegotiated.
“This interim agreement restores employees’ right to full representation at the worksite and will make it possible for employees through their union representatives to resolve any issues they encounter,” AFGE Council 238 President Gary Morton said. “This is a huge step in the right direction, and the union won’t stop fighting until we eliminate all of the anti-labor provisions forced on us by the previous administration.”
On Jan. 22, President Biden issued an executive order revoking three orders issued by the previous administration that attempted to eliminate collective bargaining, due process, and workplace representation rights for federal employees. President Biden’s order, along with subsequent guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management, instructs agencies to roll back the illegal union-busting executive orders issued by the previous president and return to the table to renegotiate contracts that fully restore the rule of law and the rights and protections of federal workers.
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