|
you are here > home > about us > VEGAS 2003 NATIONAL ELECTION |
February 4 , 2005 |
|
 |
Several HUD Locals were active participants-and even award winners-at the AFGE National Convention, held in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 18-22. Patty Petry was recognized for her superb job as Council 222 webmaster. The webpage is only a year old, but Patty took second place of all Council webpages. Further, the Council winning first place uses a professional web design firm. Ironically, when Patty applied for a HUD webmaster position, the agency determined she was not qualified because of time-in-grade restrictions. Patty works in the Fargo, North Dakota office, and is a member of AFGE Local 3972 which covers all of Region 8. Videssa Woods picked up her award for increasing her membership by greater than 20% during the past three years. Working in Atlanta, Videssa has increased her membership by almost twice that number! Other Locals receiving recognition for 20% or better membership increases include: Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Headquarters/DC Field, Omaha, Columbia, Knoxville and Richmond.
AFGE held its national elections during the convention. HUD Locals generally supported Bobby Harnage, whose wife Sharon is a member of HUD Local 476 in Headquarters. Bobby had also been gracious enough to swear in the newly elected Council officers during our convention that met prior to the national convention. Although Bobby didn't win re-election, several of the HUD Local delegates have worked with John Gage who did win. We anticipate continuing to work closely with AFGE national on issues of concern to HUD employees and to all federal employees.
In other business matters, delegates attended workshops where the issues facing federal employees were discussed more in depth. They explored ways to tackle these issues and charted a course for our union for the next three years. The recommendations of the workshops were sent to the full convention floor on Thursday and Friday. Given the battles that many federal employees are facing against the Bush Administration and a hostile House of Representatives, it was not surprising that the convention floor was raucous.
As a delegate from her Local, Council President Federoff helped draft compromise language that helped the convention move along on two hot issues. Federoff helped cobble together the compromise that was finally passed on a dues increase-more than what some wanted, but less than what others thought was needed. A dues increase takes a 2/3 vote, and the floor of the convention was locked for hours as the two sides kept voting each other's proposals down. The final compromise calls for a $2.50 per month increase beginning in January '04, no dues increases for '05 and '06, and a one time assessment of $5 per member due by the beginning of 2004. Of the $2.50 increase, 50 cents a month is set earmarked for media and legislative action. The $5 per member is also to fund media and legislative action. This will give AFGE $1 million to start the year and an additional $1.2 million annually for these key objectives. You should talk with your Local about how these national dues increases will affect you locally.
Two links you may want to visit - AFGE website and the Economic Policy Institute article entitled, "How Unions Help All Workers" (it's also on our home page). |
AFGE President Bobby Harnage
speaking to delegates |
AFGE Treasurer-Secretary
Jim Davis speaks |
Joe Butch, Buffalo NY Pres.
Carolyn Federoff Council 222 Pres.
|
President Harnage at reception
for AFGE Communication winners
Patty Petry 4th from right |
Videssa Woods and Bobby Harnage
|
Patty Petry/Council 222
web site award |
|
|
want more Vegas information? | Vegas Training/Election Page | Vegas Banquet Page | |
|
