Welcome to American Federation of Government Employees Local 1336

Benefits. Protection. Strength.

AFGE Local 1336

fights for your rights in Kansas City and beyond.

Get in Touch

Welcome to American Federation of Government Employees Local 1336

Benefits. Protection. Strength.

AFGE Local 1336

fights for your rights in Kansas City and beyond.

Get in Touch

CURRENT NEWS

SSA Misleads AFGE in Settlement Talks

Friday, September 9, 2022, SSA failed to make good on their overtures for an evaluation period extension and telework expansion. As you recall, SSA put the issue of telework on the table as part of settlement negotiations but were only willing to engage in discussions to “share ideas” or do a pilot for one small part of the agency. Nothing for the field. Nothing for the TSCs. Nothing for all PCs. Nothing for the WSUs. Nothing for the DOC. Nothing for OHO legal assistants. Nothing. When the Agency rejected several proposals to negotiate telework at the component level, we proposed a multi-year “study” of telework expansion, with all telework-eligible employees to get one additional day of telework per week on top of current levels during the study period. The Agency feigned some interest in a study proposal, but never told us what they would consider reasonable, and never countered on point. We maintained a two-year study proposal until the end, when the Agency asked us to call locals to see if they would be willing to pull their litigation in exchange. Instead, we received an additional regressive proposal that took away language the Agency had already agreed to. As a last-ditch effort to maintain some certainty for employees after September 30th, we proposed a six-month extension for a handful of litigation and an agreement to resume settlement negotiations within 30 days. The Agency rejected that proposal only minutes after it was transmitted.

To be frank, it seems that the Agency’s only goal was to clear over 50 pieces of litigation without agreeing to anything more than a six-month extension of the evaluation period. Given the stakes involved in those cases and given the Agency’s own overtures on telework to get us to the table, there was no way that we could ever entertain that idea. The Agency’s short-sightedness will prove to be an unprecedented self-inflicted wound in terms of employee morale and attrition. The Agency’s actions demonstrate that they do not care about the employees and do not care that the public will ultimately suffer as more people leave the agency.

We don’t yet know what will happen after 9/30. It is still possible that the Agency may seek to repair the situation before then. However, it would be prudent to assume that the evaluation period and related flexibilities will end, and that telework will be targeted.

The GC is preparing a campaign for real change in SSA’s approach to labor-management relations, and we will need all hands-on deck. More to follow soon. Enough is enough.

AFGE Urges Congress to Pass Funding Bills, But Short-Term CR Likely Needed

The House has reported all 12 of its annual appropriations bills out of committee and has so far passed six of the bills on the House floor. The Senate has introduced its own versions of each bill, which likely will be considered during conference with the House.

AFGE is urging Congress to pass these bills before the current fiscal year ends Sept. 30 although it is likely at least one short-term continuing resolution will be needed.

The appropriations bills include several of our priority issues, including:

4.6% pay raise

President Biden sought a 4.6% pay increase for federal employees next year – which would be the largest pay raise in 20 years. The bills left intact the president’s plan for a 4.6% raise.

Schedule F ban

The Senate included language in its appropriations bill banning future “Schedule F” designations that would make federal employees at-will, subject to the whims of political appointees, and revive the long-ago rejected spoils system.

TSA pay and Title 5 rights

Both the House and Senate appropriations bills include funding to move the Transportation Security Administration to a General Schedule-like pay system, which will result in roughly a 30% pay increase for most Transportation Security Officers. The two bills differ in when the pay provisions would be enacted, but it is important progress for improving pay for front-line TSOs and expanding collective bargaining and merit systems protection rights.

Railroad safety inspectors

Language in the appropriations bill would require the Federal Railroad Administration to review the classification of railroad safety inspectors, represented by AFGE, in anticipation of moving them into higher paying positions.

Take Action!

On non-duty time, and on your personal (non-agency) computer or smartphone, visit https://www.afge.org/common-pages/election-center-2022/ to learn more about what you can do to help yourself, your colleagues, and your union during the upcoming election!

And you can call Congress NOW and tell them to support federal employees, and denounce the executive orders.

District Office: 1-888-775-3148

DC Office: 1-844-669-5146

FIND YOUR MEMBER(S) OF CONGRESS HERE

About Us

Unions: Now More Than Ever

Rights and protections that working people now take for granted didn’t exist before unions came along. In honor of Labor Day, the American Federation of Government Employees recalls what it was like for working Americans in those days and argues why unions are needed now more than ever.

What Have Unions Ever Done For Us?

Unions have long been part of our nation's history, fighting for better pay, safer working conditions, health care and retirement benefits, education and civic participation. Unions have brought diverse voices together, and their struggles have elevated the working conditions, the standard of living and the recognition of not just their members, but of all who labor.

Welcome to American Federation of Government Employees Local 1336

Welcome to American Federation of Government Employees Local 1336

CURRENT NEWS

SSA Misleads AFGE in Settlement Talks

AFGE Urges Congress to Pass Funding Bills, But Short-Term CR Likely Needed

Take Action!

About Us

Unions: Now More Than Ever

What Have Unions Ever Done For Us?

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you!

Please use a personal email address.

AFGE Local 1336