AFGE’s Top 11 Remaining Priorities for 2021

AFGE has accomplished so much this year. With a few months left before 2021 is over, we’re moving full-speed ahead to push for legislation that would improve lives for working families.

Here are our union’s top remaining priorities for the year:

Full-year appropriations bills

Now that this shutdown has been averted, we need Congress to focus on passing full-year appropriations bills for all our agencies while also passing measures that will improve the lives for working people who serve our government with honor and distinction.

A 3.2% pay raise

We are asking Congress to provide federal workers with a 3.2% pay raise next year to help make up for years of pay freezes and insufficient wage hikes that have decimated their buying power.

TSO workplace rights

We need to pass legislation that provides our Transportation Security Officers with the same representational rights, pay, and benefits as other federal employees – what’s known as Title 5 rights. They have been denied equal rights since TSA was created 20 years ago, and this second-class status has made it harder for TSA to recruit and retain employees.

Equal locality pay

We need Congress to equalize local pay boundaries for salaried and hourly federal employees to address an issue in which tens of thousands of federal employees earn less locality pay than employees who work right beside them, just because they’re in different pay systems.

1-year probation period for DoD workers

Congress must uphold the principle of equal treatment and restore the one-year probationary period for new employees in the Department of Defense and end the misuse of term or temporary hiring for enduring functions, ensuring they are treated the same as most other federal workers.

Improved workplace rights for VA healthcare professionals

We also support legislation introduced in the House by Congressman Mark Takano that would improve collective bargaining rights for medical professionals at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Protection of DoD jobs against privatization

Protect jobs at the DoD from being privatized to contractors or converted to military.

Law enforcement officer retirement benefits

We need to pass legislation that will give all federal law enforcement officers law enforcement officer retirement benefits. Officers in many agencies, including VA, DoD, and The Federal Protective Service, are unfairly denied these benefits, despite putting their lives on the line every day.

Universal paid family leave for all Americans

Through President Biden’s Build Back Better plan, Congress is on the verge of passing universal paid family leave for all Americans. This would be 12 weeks of paid leave for all absences covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

This would include the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a new child – a benefit federal employees recently achieved – plus care for close family members, for their own serious health conditions, and for circumstances that arise when the employee or a family member is detailed for covered duty in the armed forces.

Voting rights

We need Congress to pass legislation that protects the rights of all Americans to vote and reverses actions taken by some states that will make it harder for working people, older adults, and people living in poverty to vote.

51st state

We believe every American should have equal representation in Congress, which is why we support legislation that would make the District of Columbia the 51st state and ensure full representation for the hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens who call D.C. home.

Join AFGE and ask your coworkers to join AFGE today!

Our members and staff are working to make sure the voice of government employees are heard. In an era of big money and increased corporate influence on lawmaking, AFGE provides the crucial connection between members of Congress and those we represent. So join AFGE today and help shape our own future!