American Federation of Government Employees

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{{Infobox organization

| name = AFGE

| location_country = United States

| affiliation = AFL–CIO

| members = 301,992 (2015){{citation needed|date=March 2025}}

| full_name = American Federation of Government Employees

| native_name =

| image = 250px

| founded = October 17, 1932

| dissolved =

| merged =

| headquarters = Washington, D.C.

| key_people = Everett Kelley, President

| website = {{URL|afge.org|AFGE.org}}

| footnotes =

}}

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is an American labor union representing over 750,000 employees of the federal government, about 5,000 employees of the District of Columbia, and a few hundred private sector employees, mostly in and around federal facilities. AFGE is the largest union for civilian, non-postal federal employees and the largest union for District of Columbia employees who report directly to the mayor (i.e., outside D.C. public schools). It is affiliated with the AFL–CIO.

History

File:Berniece Heffner.jpg was the first national Secretary and Treasurer of the AFGE Movement.]]

File:Henrietta Olding in 1917.jpg

AFGE was founded on October 17, 1932, by local unions loyal to the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and left the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) when that union became independent of the AFL (NFFE in 1998 became part of the IAMAW, which is affiliated with the AFL–CIO).

AFGE is a federation of local unions, with each local maintaining autonomy through operating under local constitutions that comply with the AFGE National constitution ratified originally during its founding in 1932.

Federal employees' right to organize and bargain binding labor contracts was established in law by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which AFGE helped to draft, and which states that collective bargaining in the federal sector is in the public interest while also barring the right to strike.

Image:AFGE logo2.png

AFGE has played a crucial role{{According to whom|date=April 2016}} in the struggle for women's rights and civil rights in the federal sector, and was one of the first unions to establish a Women's Department and a Fair Practices Department, with the officer over those departments holding a seat on the National Executive Committee (NEC) and with Women's and Fair Practices Coordinators elected in each AFGE district since the early 1970s.

AFGE's December 2009 court suits stopped aspects of the George W. Bush administration's "National Security Personnel System" (for DOD) and MAXHR (for DHS), and AFGE also won changes to law that make the contracting out process more balanced{{According to whom|date=April 2016}} in regard to federal employees' interests. In 2010, the Obama administration issued an executive order for the federal government to focus on insourcing federal jobs rather than outsourcing them overseas or to contractors.

AFGE's motto was established as "To Do For All That Which No One Can Do For Oneself".

AFGE's original emblem was a shield with the stars and stripes and the words "Justice, Fraternity, Progress" and the current emblem is three workers supporting a globe with a map of the United States and the words "Proud to Make America Work".

In June 2011, AFGE also won the historic largest single nationwide consolidated bargaining unit election of over 44,000 employees of the Transportation Security Administration, part of the Department of Homeland Security. AFGE is working for a change in law which will give them the same collective bargaining rights as other federal employees.

In August 2015, AFGE at its national convention decided its official colors are blue and gold. All future insignia will meet as such.

Organization

AFGE is led by a National Executive Council, made up of National President Everett Kelley, a National Secretary-Treasurer, and National Vice President, Women's and Fair Practices, elected at a triennial National Convention, and 12 National Vice Presidents who oversee geographic districts and are elected at District caucuses.

===Presidents===

:1932: David Glass

:1932: John Arthur Shaw{{cite book |title=Notable Names in American History |date=1973 |publisher=James T. White & Company |location=Clifton, New Jersey |isbn=0883710021 |page=557}}

:1933: Claude Babcock

:1936: Charles Irwin Stengle

:1939: Cecil E. Custer

:1939: James B. Burns

:1948: James G. Yaden

:1950: Henry C. Iler

:1951: James A. Campbell

:1962: John Griner

:1972: Clyde M. Webber

:1976: Ken Blaylock

:1988: John Sturdivant

:1997: Bobby Harnage

:2003: John Gage

:2012: Jeffrey David Cox

:2020: Everett Kelley

=Secretary-Treasurers=

:1935: Berniece Heffner

:1953: Henrietta E. Olding

:1956: Esther F. Johnson

:1970: Douglas H. Kershaw

:1974: Nicholas Nolan

:1986: Allen H. Kaplan

:1991: Bobby Harnage

:1997: Rita Mason

:2000: Jim Davis

:2006: Jeffrey David Cox

:2012: Eugene Hudson

:2018: Everett Kelley

:2020: Eric Bunn

===Other===

Labor relations in the federal sector are governed by the Federal Labor Relations Authority, an independent federal agency, and federal sector unions have recourse to binding arbitration and to the Federal Services Impasses Panel to resolve impasses which might lead to a strike in the private sector.

=Numbered "Councils of Locals"=

[[File:Keep the Government Open Protest (40130232883).jpg|thumb|AFGE members hold a silent protest to demand that Congress avoid another [[2018–19 United States federal government shutdown|

government shutdown]], 2019.]]

For AFGE, collective bargaining responsibilities are delegated to numbered "Councils of Locals" at major agencies, including the following:

AFGE DEFCON{{Cite web |url=http://www.afgedefcon.org/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204090640/http://www.afgedefcon.org/ |archive-date=2016-02-04 |url-status=dead}}
AFGE Federal Fire Fighter Steering Committee{{cite web|url=http://www.afgefirefighters.org|title=afgefirefighters.org|website=www.afgefirefighters.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Federal Law Enforcement Council{{Cite web |url=http://www.afgelawenforcement.org/ |title=AFGE Law Enforcement Committee | |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212084332/http://www.afgelawenforcement.org/ |archive-date=2016-02-12 |url-status=dead}}
Federal Protective Service Council
The Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA) Council.
National Border Patrol Council{{cite web|url=http://www.nbpc.net|title=National Border Patrol Council - Protecting Those Who Protect Our Borders|website=www.nbpc.net|access-date=28 May 2018}}

File:AFGE rally 2012 against VA cuts.jpg

National Council of Prisons Locals (C-33){{cite web|url=https://www.afge.org/cpl33|title=AFGE - CPL33|website=afge.org |access-date=25 February 2025}}
National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals (C-45){{cite web|url=http://www.the-inspector.com/njc|title=National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals|website=www.the-inspector.com|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=22 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522135228/http://www.the-inspector.com/njc/|url-status=dead}}
Veteran's Administration Council. a.k.a. National Council of VA Locals (C-53){{Cite web |url=http://www.afgenvac.org/ |title=AFGE National VA Council » fighting for the jobs & future of federal employees |access-date=2018-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012101703/http://afgenvac.org/ |archive-date=2017-10-12 |url-status=dead}} The VA Council is the largest and currently accounts for over one third of the federation's membership.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} Alma L. Lee is the current president of the VA council.
AFGE Council 73{{cite web|url=http://www.ncfll.org/|title=NCFLL|website=www.ncfll.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
Transportation Security Administration a.k.a. AFGE TSA Council 100{{cite web|url=http://www.afgecouncil100.org|title=Home - AFGE Council 100|website=AFGE Council 100|access-date=28 May 2018}}
ICE Council. a.k.a. AFGE Council 118 (ICE){{cite web|url=http://www.iceunion.org|title=National ICE Council - Protecting those who protect America|website=www.iceunion.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
CIS Council (119){{cite web|url=http://laborweb.afge.org/sites/DHS/AFGE1458/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=4756a087-ca0d-4a4a-af10-9dfefa0a2b7f|title=AFGE LOCAL 1458 - National CIS Council 119 Secretary Treasurer Lopez announces vote tally 1/04/14|access-date=28 May 2018}}
Coast Guard Council. (120){{cite web|url=https://www.unionfacts.com/lu/544685/AFGE/120/|title=Union Facts - Government Employees, Council 120 - United States Coast Guard Council Of Afge Locals - Profile, Membership, Leaders, Political Operations, etc.|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Council 162[http://www.afgedefcon.org/local-council/dcaa-council-162]{{dead link|date=August 2018}}
Defense Contract Management Agency (C-170){{Cite web |url=http://www.afgec170.org/ |title=Afgec170.org - afgec170 Resources and Information |access-date=2018-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323235424/http://afgec170.org/ |archive-date=2018-03-23 |url-status=dead}}
DFAS Council of DFAS Locals (C-171){{cite web|url=http://www.afge171.org|title=Former AFGE171 Main Page|website=www.afge171.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Council 172{{Cite web |url=http://www.decacouncil172.com/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123013321/http://decacouncil172.com/ |archive-date=2015-11-23 |url-status=dead}}
AFGE Council 200{{cite web|url=http://www.afgelocal200.org/|title=AFGE Local 200 – American Federation of Government Employees Local 200|website=www.afgelocal200.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
Midwest Council of Food Inspection Locals (C-202){{cite web|url=http://www.the-inspector.com|title=The-Inspector The Meat Inspectors Home Page|website=www.the-inspector.com|access-date=28 May 2018|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630232355/http://www.the-inspector.com/|url-status=dead}}
the Air Force Materiel Command a.k.a. Air Force Materiel Command Locals (C-214){{cite web|url=http://www.afgecouncil214.org|title=AFGE Council 214|website=www.afgecouncil214.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
National Council of EEOC Locals 216{{cite web|url=http://www.council216.org|title=Council 216 Main Page|website=www.council216.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals (C-220){{cite web|url=http://www.afgec220.org|title=AFGE Council 220|website=www.afgec220.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
National Council of SSA Field Operations Locals (Atlanta Region) (C-220){{Cite web |url=http://www.afgec220atl.org/ |title=Domain Error |access-date=2018-09-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313205632/http://afgec220atl.org/ |archive-date=2016-03-13 |url-status=dead}}
HUD Council. a.k.a. National Council of HUD Locals (C-222){{cite web|url=http://afgecouncil222.com/index.htm|title=HUD AFGE COUNCIL 222 Home Page|first=Your|last=Name|website=afgecouncil222.com|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Council 224{{cite web|url=http://www.afge.org/council224|title=AFGE - Council 224|website=www.afge.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Council 235[http://www.afgedefcon.org/caucus/aafes-caucus]{{dead link|date=August 2018}}
EPA Locals (C-238){{cite web|url=http://www.afgecouncil238.org/|title=My Blog - Just another WordPress site|website=www.afgecouncil238.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
AFGE Council 252{{Cite web |url=http://www.afgecouncil252.com/ |title=Welcome to the AFGE Council 252 website! |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821111054/http://afgecouncil252.com/ |archive-date=2013-08-21 |url-status=dead}}
Council of National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Locals (C-260){{cite web|url=http://www.afgecouncil260.org|title=afgecouncil260.org|website=www.afgecouncil260.org|access-date=28 May 2018}}
Smithsonian Institution, Local 2463.{{Cite web |title=Signing of a collective bargaining agreement between the Smithsonian Institution and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 2463. |url=https://siarchives.si.edu/collections/siris_arc_386308}}

File:AFGE 1980s Cap.jpg

Membership

All union membership in the federal sector is entirely voluntary, as the law does not allow for the "closed shop"; federal employees are barred from being candidates for partisan political office, and no dues money may be spent on partisan political campaigns.