Labor Day Message - Honor our Dedicated Federal Employees

It is ironic that we celebrate Labor Day just six days before the first anniversary of September 11, where 431 brave union men and women died trying to save the 3000 trapped victims of the attack on the World Trade Center. Members of AFGE were among the federal workers at the Pentagon. Heroes Everyday, and we should remember them on this Labor Day.

We should also remember the sacrifices of all those who came before us and provided the opportunity to belong to this great union and proudly serve the America public everyday. Unionized members and those who are under AFGE Collective Bargaining Agreements have never shirked their duties to the national security or against the public interest. AFGE is celebrating its 70th year and Local 644 its 62nd. We have a proud history of service to our members, the working men and women, and the public interest.

Members of AFGE Council 73, the National Council of Labor Locals of which Local 644 is one of AFGE Locals, has worked in the public interest and tirelessly for working America for 40 years. Members of this Local and this Council work each day to promote the welfare of working families and to protect the workers in their daily lives. Members of Local 2502 and 644, MSHA mine rescue team were at the Quecreek Mine in Pa, and saved the nine miners. Members of Local 3384 and MSHA mine rescue team were at the Jim Walter Mine in Alabama where they tried courageously to save the 13 miners who died in the explosion there last year.

Hundreds of OSHA inspectors from all of the Locals spent days and months at the World Trade Center, exposing themselves to harmful conditions to provide as safe and environment for the rescue workers that was possible. In all of these events, not one union member of the NCFLL shirked their duty and went beyond to serve. They were union, they federal workers, they were Americans and they were Heroes Everyday. Their union rights did not get in the way of their obligations to the job and their fellow working Americans. Their unionism strengthens their resolve to do the work in the public interest.

President Bush praised the work of federal, state and county rescue workers at Quecreek Mine in a photo opportunity with the nine rescued workers. Stating that it showed the best of America, the efforts of the working men and women of America. Then he asked that the union rights of the 170,000 federal employees of the new Homeland Security Department be suspended, because the Department needs flexibility to hire, fire and reassign staff. When the Administration was asked to cite one instance anywhere that a union contract got in the way of the Border Patrol, Customs Service or any other of the federal agencies who will transfer into the newly created Department, none could be cited.

This attack on the union rights of federal employees in this Department is an attack on all of us in the federal sector and ultimately an attack on all unions in the country. Of the 170, 000 potential workers in DHS, 50,000 are represented by AFGE. If the Administration gets away with this, we will be next… and even those who are not union members will be affected. Every bargaining unit employee whether a union member or not benefits by the union contract. This will end.

The best way to celebrate Labor Day is first of all being at your local area Labor Day parade and celebration and secondly by contacting your Senator and telling them that you are a constituent and you would like them to "to oppose any efforts to change the provision in the Senate Homeland Security Bill that protect civil service and collective bargaining rights for federal employees who are transferred into the new Department." Go on further to say, " Congress won’t make America more secure by undermining the rights and freedoms we are fighting to protect. We should honor our dedicated federal employees. We shouldn’t discredit them and take away their rights."