2009 AFGE Legislative Conference

by Ed Klein, Area Vice President/Legislative Committee Chair

An AFGE Local 1658 contingent of President Dan Martin, and AVP's Vernessar Morris Lee, and Ed Klein attended this year's National Legislative Conference in Washington DC . Despite the dire economic crisis facing our Country, in my ten years of attending these Conferences, I have never felt a more upbeat, positive mood of attendees and in the City itself. This was of course because we elected our AFGE endorsed candidate for President and also made key gains in the Congress. We believe that after eight long years of fighting an Administration that tried to contract out as many of our jobs as possible, take away our collective bargaining rights (NSPS) and fought our pay raises every year, we now have an Administration and a Congress that will appreciate the value and worth of the contributions to our Nation of Federal Employees.

Michigan AFGE Contingent (including Local 1658 reps) with Senator Stabenow:

Local President Martin and Vice President Klein with Detroit Congressman and Chair of House Judiciary Committee John Conyers:

AFGE National Rep Joe Dolan and Local Vice President Klein with newly elected Oakland County Congressman Gary Peters:

Local President Martin and AFGE National President John Gage in negotiations:

This year our group met with both Michigan Senators and each of the nine Michigan Congressmen and Congresswomen that represent Local 1658 members. In addition to the subjects of our annual pay raise and the increasing costs of our Insurance premiums, our discussions with Legislators focused on four issues:

1) Privatization of Government Jobs:  After the disasters of privatization over the last eight years (Halliburton/Walter Reed/Blackwater,etc) I believe we have turned the corner on this issue! The mood in the Congress and with the new Administration is that Privatization of our jobs in the long run costs the taxpayers more money and delivers fewer results. We made great gains with last years Defense Bill to slow down Privatization in the DoD and hope to expand on those gains this year. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland has introduced Legislation that would not only stop the race toward privatization but would force Agencies to bring work previously contracted out back "In House". Most Legislators we met with were receptive to signing on to this Legislation.

2) NSPS:  President Obama, before his election, sent a letter to National President Gage stating that if elected, he would either radically change or do away with NSPS completely. The Legislators we met with we were in agreement with this plan.

3) Airport Screeners:  While this issue does not impact our Local directly, it is #1 on AFGE's Legislative list. If we can overturn the Bush Administration's ban on Screeners joining AFGE, it will mean thousands of more members!

4) Employee Free Choice Act:   Again this issue will not impact us directly, but as proud members of the AFL-CIO and the Labor Movement, this is Legislation priority #1. If passed, it will make joining a Union much easier for private sector employees.

AFGE Local 1658 is proud of the results we have realized from our efforts at the Legislative Conferences and our legislative efforts which go on all year long back here in Michigan.

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