IMPORTANT:
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election related activity.
December 10, 2015
The
2016 presidential election is fast approaching, and no one will be
impacted more by our nation's decision than government employees. The
next president will be our boss for four years and hold enormous sway
over our jobs, our pay, and our retirement, and we must do everything we
can to support the candidate who supports us.
AFGE needs to make
sure that whoever occupies the White House values our work and our
agencies' mission to serve the public. We need someone with the spine to
stand strong against the anti-government ideologues that want to shut
down the government and eliminate your jobs.
That's why AFGE is proud to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States.
“Secretary
Clinton shares AFGE’s vision for a strong and vibrant government
workforce that has the necessary tools and support needed to deliver
vital programs and services to the American public,” said AFGE National
President J. David Cox, Sr. “The American people count on government
employees to keep their streets safe, deliver their Social Security
checks on time, and care for our nation’s heroes at veterans’ hospitals,
and AFGE can count on Hillary Clinton to help us get it done.”
While
many candidates have used government employees as political punching
bags, Clinton has stood up for employees at the VA and other agencies.
While other candidates are trying to raid your pay, Clinton wants to
protect it - and give you a fair raise. While many candidates want to
destroy AFGE and other unions, Clinton believes unions are critical to
building a vibrant middle class. While other candidates have introduced
legislation to make federal employees at-will, Clinton is committed to
protecting you against retaliation, discrimination, and wrongful
personnel actions by allowing union reps to do their jobs protecting
frontline employees' fundamental due process rights.
Secretary
Clinton told AFGE leaders at a recent presidential forum “I believe in
the right to organize and bargain collectively. I think we’ve lost track
of what it takes to balance the economy so it works for everyone.
Workers need to be at the table."
Clinton also assured AFGE that she won’t let the Department of Veterans Affairs be exploited to satisfy a political agenda. She wants to make sure our correctional officers and TSA officers are safe on the job, and SSA employees can continue to serve Americans at community offices and elsewhere.
Secretary
Clinton wants to be AFGE's partner in restoring pride in government
service, and the time to come together and answer the call is now.
How We Decided to Endorse
We
did not come to our endorsement decision lightly. Before we decided
which candidate deserved AFGE's support, we reached out to all announced
presidential candidates - Republican and Democratic - with a
questionnaire to gauge their positions on federal employees. We
conducted a scientific survey of our members' candidate/issue
preferences, and Clinton’s support exceeded that of the next closest
candidate’s by nearly a 2-1 margin. We monitored presidential debates,
and held our historic presidential forum with the two candidates who
promptly responded to our questionnaires.
AFGE is a large
organization with a variety of political opinions, so all endorsements
are made on candidates’ stances on the issues alone - not party. We
support candidates who support a better life for our members and the
public they serve; we oppose candidates who villainize public service
and suppress unions, workplace protections, and voting rights.
After
reviewing every candidate’s record on federal employee pay and
benefits, furloughs, shutdowns, and government services, the AFGE
National Executive Council this week voted to endorse Hillary Clinton.
Now we need to close ranks and stand by her in what will no doubt be a
long fight against a determined anti-government, anti-worker onslaught.
Read more >>>>
Hillary
Clinton released the below statement after earning the endorsement of
the American Federation of Government Employees. With the endorsement of
the AFGE, which represents 670,000 federal workers in 1,100 locals,
Clinton now has the support of nearly 12 million union members across 18
different national unions and labor alliances that have endorsed her
campaign.
“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the American Federation of Government Employees and their 670,000 members.
“AFGE
members make America run—protecting our national security, keeping our
families healthy through food inspections, and serving our military in
civilian support roles. And for decades, AFGE members have helped build
the American middle class by fighting for higher wages, safer working
conditions, and the right to organize and bargain collectively.
“As
President, I will always stand up for workers’ rights, fight to keep
workers safe on the job, and protect retirement security, including
defined benefit plans and Social Security. I’m proud to stand with
federal workers, including the men and women of AFGE, to continue making
progress and build a better future for working families. Because when
workers are strong, families are strong—and when families are strong,
America is strong.”
This endorsement follows the endorsement of
the International Longshoreman Association, International Union of
Operating Engineers (IUOE), The American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME), The National Education Association (NEA),
The Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association
(OPCMIA), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America,
United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, The American
Federation of Teachers, The International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers, The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied
Craftworkers, The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of
the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry, International Union of Painters
and Allied Trades, International Association of Bridge, Structural,
Ornamental, and Reinforcing Ironworkers, International Heat and Frost
Insulators and Allied Workers, Service Employees International Union
(SEIU) and North America’s Building Trades Union (NABTU).
Read more>>>>
