American Federation of Government Employees

Last updated
American Federation of Government Employees
AbbreviationAFGE
FoundedAugust 18, 1932
Type Labor union
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Location
Members321,000 (2025) [1]
President
Everett Kelley
Affiliations AFL–CIO
Website AFGE.org

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is an American labor union representing over 820,000 employees of the federal government and the District of Columbia. [2] 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. [3]

Contents

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. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C.

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. Under 5 U.S.C.   § 7311 and 18 U.S.C.   § 1918, federal employees are prohibited from striking against the United States government, and doing so is a criminal offense.

History

Original AFGE logo AFGE logo2.png
Original AFGE logo

AFGE was founded in August 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. [4] AFGE's motto was established as "To Do For All That Which No One Can Do For Oneself". Its original emblem was a shield with the stars and stripes and the words "Justice, Fraternity, Progress".

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.

AFGE's 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? ] 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.

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.

The current emblem is three workers supporting a globe with a map of the United States and the words "Proud to Make America Work".

Organization

Berniece Heffner was the first national Secretary and Treasurer of AFGE. Berniece Heffner.jpg
Berniece Heffner was the first national Secretary and Treasurer of AFGE.
Henrietta Olding, shown here in 1917, was an early vice president of District 2 and a labor and women's rights activist. Henrietta Olding in 1917.jpg
Henrietta Olding, shown here in 1917, was an early vice president of District 2 and a labor and women’s rights activist.

AFGE is led by a National Executive Council, made up of a National President, National Secretary-Treasurer, National Vice President for Women's and Fair Practices, and 12 National Vice Presidents who oversee geographic districts and are elected at District caucuses. [5]

Presidents

1932: David R. Glass [6]
1932: John Arthur Shaw [7]
1933: Claude Babcock [7]
1936: Charles Irwin Stengle [7]
1939: Cecil E. Custer [7]
1939: James B. Burns [7]
1948: James G. Yaden [7]
1950: Henry C. Iler [7]
1951: James A. Campbell [7]
1962: John Griner [7]
1972: Clyde M. Webber
1976: Ken Blaylock
1988: John Sturdivant
1997: Bobby Harnage
2003: John Gage
2012: Jeffrey David Cox
2020: Everett Kelley [8]

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

Districts

AFGE ball cap from the 1980s. AFGE 1980s Cap.jpg
AFGE ball cap from the 1980s.

AFGE is divided into twelve geographic districts, each with its own regional office. The twelve districts are: [9]

Councils of Locals

AFGE members hold a silent protest to demand that Congress avoid another government shutdown, 2019. Keep the Government Open Protest (40130232883).jpg
AFGE members hold a silent protest to demand that Congress avoid another government shutdown, 2019.
AFGE rally against Department of Veterans Affair budget cuts, 2012. AFGE rally 2012 against VA cuts.jpg
AFGE rally against Department of Veterans Affair budget cuts, 2012.

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

Membership

AFGE membership from 2000 to 2024. AFGE membership.jpg
AFGE membership from 2000 to 2024.

All federal sector union membership is voluntary, as the law prohibits closed shops. Federal employees are barred from being candidates for partisan political office, and no dues money may be spent on partisan political campaigns.

Dues-paying membership was reported as 197,096 at the end of fiscal year 2000. This number peaked in fiscal year 2018 with 332,977 members. By 2024, the number was 319,825. [30] Approximately 42% of AFGE membership came from the National VA Council in 2024. [31]

See also

References

  1. "AFGE Membership Highest in History as Government Workers Join in Droves to Stand Up for Public Service". www.afge.org. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  2. "AFGE at a Glance". www.afge.org. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. "Our Affiliated Unions | AFL-CIO". aflcio.org. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  4. Weir, Robert E. (January 2013). Workers in America: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN   978-1-59884-719-2.
  5. "National Officers' Bios". www.afge.org. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  6. Arnesen, Eric (2007). Encyclopedia of U.S. Labor and Working-class History. Taylor & Francis. ISBN   978-0-415-96826-3.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Notable Names in American History. Clifton, New Jersey: James T. White & Company. 1973. p. 557. ISBN   0883710021.
  8. "Perspective | He was a Baptist pastor for 31 years. Now he leads the largest federal labor union". The Washington Post. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  9. "Districts". www.afge.org. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2016-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "afgefirefighters.org". www.afgefirefighters.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  12. "AFGE Law Enforcement Committee |". Archived from the original on 2016-02-12. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  13. "National Border Patrol Council - Protecting Those Who Protect Our Borders". www.nbpc.net. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  14. "AFGE - CPL33". afge.org. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  15. "National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals". www.the-inspector.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  16. "AFGE National VA Council » fighting for the jobs & future of federal employees". Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  17. "Home - AFGE Council 100". AFGE Council 100. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  18. "National ICE Council - Protecting those who protect America". www.iceunion.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  19. "AFGE LOCAL 1458 - National CIS Council 119 Secretary Treasurer Lopez announces vote tally 1/04/14" . Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  20. "Union Facts - Government Employees, Council 120 - United States Coast Guard Council Of Afge Locals - Profile, Membership, Leaders, Political Operations, etc" . Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  21. "Afgec170.org - afgec170 Resources and Information". Archived from the original on 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  22. "Former AFGE171 Main Page". www.afge171.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  23. "The-Inspector The Meat Inspectors Home Page". www.the-inspector.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  24. "AFGE Council 214". www.afgecouncil214.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  25. "Council 216 Main Page". www.council216.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  26. "AFGE Council 220". www.afgec220.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  27. Name, Your. "HUD AFGE COUNCIL 222 Home Page". afgecouncil222.com. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  28. "Home • AFGE Council 238". afge238.org. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  29. "afgecouncil260.org". www.afgecouncil260.org. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  30. "500-002 (LM2) 12/31/2024". olmsapps.dol.gov. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  31. "Government Employees Union". Union Facts. Retrieved 17 October 2025.