We have made it through November and survived the latest excitement about the money, although as yet we do not have an accounting of what has transpired. We have the holidays and a membership meeting ahead of us. We should all be grateful for the good that we have experienced in the past year. Plenty more challenges and opportunities await us.
I am looking forward to working with our new Chief Steward, Celeste Nelson, on the challenges that come our way in the future. I also look forward to working with President Walter Bruce on increasing our membership and making AFGE "the place to go" for Civil Service employees who have issues and concerns. We do not have to be adversarial with management. But our goal must always be to represent the interests of bargaining unit employees.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS --- Dorie S.
This is a new blog about contracting in the government. Having had the unfortunate experience of being a whistleblower, I have learned something about how waste, fraud, and abuse happens.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Money, money, money
Money can be quite a trap to fall into. Money that one is minding for someone else, whether it is the government's money, the union's, or any other organization's, must be treated as such. The temptation might be to think that it belongs to those who use it. That is a big mistake. As stewards of funds our responsibility is to make the best use of them that we possibly can with the oversight and concurrence of those we are serving.
I feel I owe Gail Brown an apology for being impatience with her questions about the finances at the business meetings. Obviously, it is important that we let those who are spending our money know that we are keeping track of them. Gail was always full of questions that really were worth asking.
As for the treasurer and the others, I have no knowledge that they were doing anything dishonest with our funds, but it appears that they were mishandled. Trips to Charleston should not take precedence over keeping the AFGE offices at State and USAID open.
We should take the latest hoopla over the funds as a wake-up call for us to review and reassess our assets, our obligations, and where we go from here. We still have plenty of work to do to help our agencies be great places to work.
I feel I owe Gail Brown an apology for being impatience with her questions about the finances at the business meetings. Obviously, it is important that we let those who are spending our money know that we are keeping track of them. Gail was always full of questions that really were worth asking.
As for the treasurer and the others, I have no knowledge that they were doing anything dishonest with our funds, but it appears that they were mishandled. Trips to Charleston should not take precedence over keeping the AFGE offices at State and USAID open.
We should take the latest hoopla over the funds as a wake-up call for us to review and reassess our assets, our obligations, and where we go from here. We still have plenty of work to do to help our agencies be great places to work.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The time is NOW
AFGE 1534 is undergoing major stress and the leadership is assessing what to do about financial mismanagement and questionable decisions made by those who were spending our money. All members of AFGE 1534 contribute to it through the dues we pay.
We are supposed to make decisions about how our money is spent if an expenditure is over $250. It appears that the constitutional requirement for membership oversight was not met. At present we do not know why or what happened to cause it, but our funds have become so depleted that we cannot afford to pay our office staff.
It is a very unfortunate situation for us to have to let our staff go without work for some period of time while we regain our financial footing. But we cannot accept even if they wished to do so for them to work without pay. Those of us who work at the Department could work in the office during our lunch break or at other times when we can take leave.
That might be the best solution at this time. In the long run we need to figure out what was going on that caused this financial emergency and we need to hold those officers accountable who did not use our funds effectively.
I had not written about the election protest that I lodged because I wanted it to go through channels. Surprisingly the District 14 Office appears not to have taken its responsibility to investigate my allegations seriously. I never heard back from them.
I have heard about the present emergency situation and thus am responding from my perspective. I have complete confidence in the integrity of President Walter Bruce. I am confident that his major concern is for the welfare of AFGE 1534 and bargaining unit employees. I also believe that now, more than ever, it is time for a New Team for AFGE.
We are supposed to make decisions about how our money is spent if an expenditure is over $250. It appears that the constitutional requirement for membership oversight was not met. At present we do not know why or what happened to cause it, but our funds have become so depleted that we cannot afford to pay our office staff.
It is a very unfortunate situation for us to have to let our staff go without work for some period of time while we regain our financial footing. But we cannot accept even if they wished to do so for them to work without pay. Those of us who work at the Department could work in the office during our lunch break or at other times when we can take leave.
That might be the best solution at this time. In the long run we need to figure out what was going on that caused this financial emergency and we need to hold those officers accountable who did not use our funds effectively.
I had not written about the election protest that I lodged because I wanted it to go through channels. Surprisingly the District 14 Office appears not to have taken its responsibility to investigate my allegations seriously. I never heard back from them.
I have heard about the present emergency situation and thus am responding from my perspective. I have complete confidence in the integrity of President Walter Bruce. I am confident that his major concern is for the welfare of AFGE 1534 and bargaining unit employees. I also believe that now, more than ever, it is time for a New Team for AFGE.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
What's the difference?
As you can see Sylvester did not get on and take up the blog. I even left it alone for this week. Of course, most people have made their decision and sent in their ballots by now. But I think it is only fair to address what the difference would be between me and Toney Bishop other than race and sex.
For about six years Toney Bishop has been the face of AFGE for the State Department. He has encouraged people with issues and concerns to call and e-mail him and to keep doing so until they get a response. His problem is that he is just one person. He does not have anymore hours in the day than any of the rest of us. He cannot be in more than one place at the same time.
My approach will be to work as a team with the rest of the AFGE officers, stewards, and members so that we can work together to take care of employees' concerns. I have been contacted by personal services contract employees wanting to know if they can join AFGE. I have told them that we are all one organization and that we want to see them join us as GS employees.
Divide and conquer is the game as old as empire, but we do not have to fall for that. I want AFGE to be courageous without being adversarial with our colleagues. I want us to be out in front of the issues for GS employees advocating for them and protecting them.
I would like every eligible employee to feel that AFGE is the union that is there for them. I hope that when you are considering who to vote for that you will vote on issues, goals, and what we can do as a team. I can promise you that if you send an e-mail to me (provided you are not spamming), you will get a response on the first try. If there is someone else who can take up the issue better than me, I will pass your concern to someone on the AFGE team.
For about six years Toney Bishop has been the face of AFGE for the State Department. He has encouraged people with issues and concerns to call and e-mail him and to keep doing so until they get a response. His problem is that he is just one person. He does not have anymore hours in the day than any of the rest of us. He cannot be in more than one place at the same time.
My approach will be to work as a team with the rest of the AFGE officers, stewards, and members so that we can work together to take care of employees' concerns. I have been contacted by personal services contract employees wanting to know if they can join AFGE. I have told them that we are all one organization and that we want to see them join us as GS employees.
Divide and conquer is the game as old as empire, but we do not have to fall for that. I want AFGE to be courageous without being adversarial with our colleagues. I want us to be out in front of the issues for GS employees advocating for them and protecting them.
I would like every eligible employee to feel that AFGE is the union that is there for them. I hope that when you are considering who to vote for that you will vote on issues, goals, and what we can do as a team. I can promise you that if you send an e-mail to me (provided you are not spamming), you will get a response on the first try. If there is someone else who can take up the issue better than me, I will pass your concern to someone on the AFGE team.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Hand off
It is Sunday morning and we are heading out to the beach. If all goes well, Sylvester will take over this blog for the week of August 16. I hope that you are getting the idea that we plan to work as a team. See you soon.
Friday, August 14, 2009
About Us
First I must say that I am new to blogging. It is remarkably easy to set one up, even for someone with limited computer skills. But I do have one problem. I am trying to get my running mate, Sylvester Hardin, permissions to write on this blog. I would like to have his bio on the blog too so it would be "About Us." I hope to accomplish that so that he can write on the blog while I am away next week.
Here are our bios from our campaign flyer. If all goes well you will be hearing from Sylvester next week.
The New Team
Dorie Southern has twenty years’ experience at the Department of State. She has worked as a secretary at FSI, a receptionist in the Office of Civil Rights, a program assistant in EUR, and now is an Inventory Management Specialist in OBO. As a steward in OBO she has:
• Helped three employees get overdue promotions;
• Helped an employee get taken off of leave restriction;
• Raised concerns of several employees who contacted her when the Department failed to pay their Quality Step Increases;
• Advised employees on performance appraisal and EEO matters.
At the July Town Hall meeting, Dorie publicly informed Secretary Clinton about merit systems principles being disregarded and contract positions taking over GS positions. At her urging, Secretary Clinton promised to look into these issues.
Dorie’s article entitled “Why Join AFGE?” won the AFGE National 2009 Communications Contest for Best Union Feature/News Story.
Dorie Southern and Sylvester Hardin were both born in St. Louis, Missouri. Missouri is the “Show Me State” and they are ready to show how real progress can be made in the treatment of Civil Service employees.
Sylvester Hardin is a former Marine. He joined the State Department in Overseas Buildings Operations in 2006 as a Program Analyst. He has extensive experience addressing EEO concerns, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Department grievance system.
Sylvester looks forward to working as a team with the 1st Vice President and the Chief Steward to address employee issues. They plan to organize the steward system so that every employee knows where to turn if they have a concern.
Our goal is to make the State Department a place where employees enjoy coming to work. We plan to address important issues like tele-working, alternative work schedules and the performance appraisals system.
Here are our bios from our campaign flyer. If all goes well you will be hearing from Sylvester next week.
The New Team
Dorie Southern has twenty years’ experience at the Department of State. She has worked as a secretary at FSI, a receptionist in the Office of Civil Rights, a program assistant in EUR, and now is an Inventory Management Specialist in OBO. As a steward in OBO she has:
• Helped three employees get overdue promotions;
• Helped an employee get taken off of leave restriction;
• Raised concerns of several employees who contacted her when the Department failed to pay their Quality Step Increases;
• Advised employees on performance appraisal and EEO matters.
At the July Town Hall meeting, Dorie publicly informed Secretary Clinton about merit systems principles being disregarded and contract positions taking over GS positions. At her urging, Secretary Clinton promised to look into these issues.
Dorie’s article entitled “Why Join AFGE?” won the AFGE National 2009 Communications Contest for Best Union Feature/News Story.
Dorie Southern and Sylvester Hardin were both born in St. Louis, Missouri. Missouri is the “Show Me State” and they are ready to show how real progress can be made in the treatment of Civil Service employees.
Sylvester Hardin is a former Marine. He joined the State Department in Overseas Buildings Operations in 2006 as a Program Analyst. He has extensive experience addressing EEO concerns, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and the Department grievance system.
Sylvester looks forward to working as a team with the 1st Vice President and the Chief Steward to address employee issues. They plan to organize the steward system so that every employee knows where to turn if they have a concern.
Our goal is to make the State Department a place where employees enjoy coming to work. We plan to address important issues like tele-working, alternative work schedules and the performance appraisals system.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
AFGE 1534 on the Web
AFGE 1534 has a beautiful blue website. We appreciate the effort it takes to make a website and to keep it up-to-date. Even this little blog presents a daily challenge to me. In the future we want to see our website providing information at your finger tips. We want bargaining unit employees to know that they can go to the AFGE 1534 Intranet site to find answers, information, instructions, and guidance.
Perhaps we will have a Q & A section or a "Listening" section so that we can find out what is on your minds. We will provide easy access to the Labor-Management Agreement, instructions for stewards, and information about performance appraisals. We will have sanitized records of cases so that we can learn from the experiences of others. We will be willing to accept your ideas and suggestions for how to make AFGE 1534 the kind of union that meets the needs of employees.
Our website will be your go-to place for information. We will be open to your ideas. We look forward to your help in making AFGE 1534 the union that is here for you.
Perhaps we will have a Q & A section or a "Listening" section so that we can find out what is on your minds. We will provide easy access to the Labor-Management Agreement, instructions for stewards, and information about performance appraisals. We will have sanitized records of cases so that we can learn from the experiences of others. We will be willing to accept your ideas and suggestions for how to make AFGE 1534 the kind of union that meets the needs of employees.
Our website will be your go-to place for information. We will be open to your ideas. We look forward to your help in making AFGE 1534 the union that is here for you.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Stewards
Stewards are the eyes and ears, hands and feet of AFGE Local 1534. They are the front line for members who have concerns to address. Stewards need to have support and assistance from the officers of the Local for them to do their job effectively. Our goal is to work with our new Chief Steward to make sure that our stewards are well trained and supported in their work.
When a steward comes to us with a question or concern, we want to be ready and willing to get the needed answer. We want to train our stewards through workshops or classroom training at the National's institute. We know that members expect a lot from stewards. We know that stewards give a lot of their time and effort to help our Local to be the responsive organization that we want it to be. Therefore, we must be there for them. If we expect them to stand up for you, we cannot do less than stand up for them.
When a steward comes to us with a question or concern, we want to be ready and willing to get the needed answer. We want to train our stewards through workshops or classroom training at the National's institute. We know that members expect a lot from stewards. We know that stewards give a lot of their time and effort to help our Local to be the responsive organization that we want it to be. Therefore, we must be there for them. If we expect them to stand up for you, we cannot do less than stand up for them.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Access and Communication
Our new team plans to make access and communication a priority for our local. We will use the website, the newsletter, blogs, e-mail, and bulletin boards to get the word out about what our local is doing. We will make sure that when members come by during the day that someone is there to welcome them and address their questions.
We cannot promise that we can please every member every time they have an issue to address. But we can promise that we will be there to help you find the answers that work for you. We will advise and instruct as necessary. We will check with our lawyer about questions and get answers that will help us all understand whatever the situation is that is being considered.
We want AFGE to be your eyes and ears to AFGE National. We will pass along important information so that you understand what AFGE is doing and why. Our vision is for a strong and responsive AFGE there for you.
We cannot promise that we can please every member every time they have an issue to address. But we can promise that we will be there to help you find the answers that work for you. We will advise and instruct as necessary. We will check with our lawyer about questions and get answers that will help us all understand whatever the situation is that is being considered.
We want AFGE to be your eyes and ears to AFGE National. We will pass along important information so that you understand what AFGE is doing and why. Our vision is for a strong and responsive AFGE there for you.
Monday, August 10, 2009
We Need Your Support
A New Team for AFGE
AFGE 1534 State Department Candidates
http://newteam4afge.blogspot.com/
Vote For
- Sylvester Hardin, State 2nd Vice President
Vision – Our vision for AFGE 1534 is as an effective advocate for you, the bargaining unit employees. When issues or concerns arise, we pledge to provide timely and effective representation to bargaining unit employees.
Change – It’s time for your
Communication – AFGE 1534 is the voice for bargaining unit employees. We advocate for your best interests and work for your benefit. We will keep you informed on issues central to your careers, including:
· Outsourcing
· Third party contractors and personal services contractors
· Performance plans and pay-for-performance
· Alternative work schedules
Responsiveness – Our goal is to be transparent, responsive, and helpful. Together as a dedicated team we will work with the Chief Steward and the whole team of stewards on your behalf. We will meet deadlines, and we will use all the advocacy options that are available to address members’ needs and concerns.
Judgment – Out team has the combined years of work experience needed to provide members with the best guidance, counseling, referrals, and representation possible. We are here for you.
We Need Your Support! Please give us the opportunity to represent you. Your vote will enable us to represent and advocate on your behalf at the Department, just as National AFGE advocates for us on Capitol Hill. Together, we will work to keep public service honorable and the kind of employment of which we can be proud. Each of us has the honor of working for our country. We are a diverse group and each of us deserves respect for our work!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
The Department of State and Contract Employees
At the Department of State we have a variety of different types of employees. There are Foreign Service, Civil Service, Personal Services Contract, and Third Party Contract employees. We are all working toward the same goals and none of us is intrinsically better than another.
As the Union for most Civil Service employees AFGE advocates for the interests of Civil Service employees but many of us have good friends who are one of the different type of employees. They are our colleagues. We would like to see many of the Personal Service Contract (PSC) employees and Third Party Contract employees join us as GS employees.
For example I have three PSC employees in my office who work with me. Two of them have been in the office since before I got there five years ago. I would like to see those employees become GS employee just like me.
I also have a Third Party Contract colleague who works with me doing identical work to me. I would like to have her join me as a GS employee. On the other hand, I have spoken to GS employees in other offices who are finding themselves blocked from progress in their careers because all the higher grade jobs are advertised as PSC positions. They don't want to give up their career status so they are unable to go after the promotion that they want.
It is particularly distressing to have the retired higher grade employees come back to double dip and block progress for the younger employees. There is work that retired employees can do filling in and mentoring. But that work should not include blocking career progression for employees moving up the career ladder.
Merit System Principles appear to be disregarded when retirees are slotted for jobs before they even retire. I asked Secretary Clinton to look into this at the July Town Hall Meeting. As the new VP and Second VP for AFGE Sylvester Hardin and I intend to bring this issue up at the highest levels of the Department.
While it is well and good to bring it up on Capitol Hill, we need to address management at the State Department about this concern providing specific examples like the ones in my office where the Department would be better served by the direct hiring of employees.
As the Union for most Civil Service employees AFGE advocates for the interests of Civil Service employees but many of us have good friends who are one of the different type of employees. They are our colleagues. We would like to see many of the Personal Service Contract (PSC) employees and Third Party Contract employees join us as GS employees.
For example I have three PSC employees in my office who work with me. Two of them have been in the office since before I got there five years ago. I would like to see those employees become GS employee just like me.
I also have a Third Party Contract colleague who works with me doing identical work to me. I would like to have her join me as a GS employee. On the other hand, I have spoken to GS employees in other offices who are finding themselves blocked from progress in their careers because all the higher grade jobs are advertised as PSC positions. They don't want to give up their career status so they are unable to go after the promotion that they want.
It is particularly distressing to have the retired higher grade employees come back to double dip and block progress for the younger employees. There is work that retired employees can do filling in and mentoring. But that work should not include blocking career progression for employees moving up the career ladder.
Merit System Principles appear to be disregarded when retirees are slotted for jobs before they even retire. I asked Secretary Clinton to look into this at the July Town Hall Meeting. As the new VP and Second VP for AFGE Sylvester Hardin and I intend to bring this issue up at the highest levels of the Department.
While it is well and good to bring it up on Capitol Hill, we need to address management at the State Department about this concern providing specific examples like the ones in my office where the Department would be better served by the direct hiring of employees.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
AFGE Election
The AFGE elections are coming soon. Sylvester Hardin and I are running as a team for the positions of Second Vice President and (First) Vice President for the Department of State AFGE 1534. We are ready to lead AFGE in a new way. We intent be a team along with the new Chief Steward in responding to members' questions and concerns.
We want to see a more responsive AFGE. Working with the rest of the executive committee we want to address the need for a revision of the AFGE 1534 Constitution. We plan to bring up the issues that are unaddressed in the Labor-Management agreement with the Director General's Office. In particular we want to address alternative work schedules and tele-working in a more proactive manner.
We plan to make the AFGE website informative. All bargaining unit employees should be able to find the information that they need. If you are unable to find information you need, we will find the answers for you.
We want every bargain unit employee to be aware of what AFGE can do and is doing for them.
Vote for Dorie Southern for (First) Vice President and Sylvester Hardin for Second Vice President for the Department of State AFGE 1534. We are prepared with new ideas and plans for AFGE 1534.
We want to see a more responsive AFGE. Working with the rest of the executive committee we want to address the need for a revision of the AFGE 1534 Constitution. We plan to bring up the issues that are unaddressed in the Labor-Management agreement with the Director General's Office. In particular we want to address alternative work schedules and tele-working in a more proactive manner.
We plan to make the AFGE website informative. All bargaining unit employees should be able to find the information that they need. If you are unable to find information you need, we will find the answers for you.
We want every bargain unit employee to be aware of what AFGE can do and is doing for them.
Vote for Dorie Southern for (First) Vice President and Sylvester Hardin for Second Vice President for the Department of State AFGE 1534. We are prepared with new ideas and plans for AFGE 1534.
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