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Thank You
LETTER FROM AFGE PRESIDENT!
Hello AFGE Retiree Brothers and Sisters –
Let’s start with a thank you to all of you who took the time to make a phone call or send a message to Congress about the federal budget. The Fiscal Year 2018 budget was adopted last week without making any cuts to current or future federal retirees’ benefits. The president’s budget proposed eliminating the COLA permanently for current retirees, and initially approved a budget that turned Medicare into an underfunded voucher program (and Medicaid into a block grant).
While this is good news, the passage of the budget clears the way for a tax reform package that calls for the funding to come from $500 billion in Medicare cuts and over $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid.
Even more, the budget cuts operating budgets for many agencies, including a cut of $465 million from the Social Security Administration’s operating budget. Right now, appointments for new Social Security claims can take up to 60 days, and benefits appeals can take over two years.
It is estimated that for every $100 million in budget cuts, another 826,000 new retirement or survivors’ claims will not be processed on time.
More Good News on Your COLA
The Social Security Administration announced that the cost of living adjustment (COLA) will be 2.0 percent, higher than in previous years. At the same, the federal retiree COLA for 2018 will be 2.0 percent.
Neither of these COLAs has kept pace with inflation, particularly factoring in the expenses of most retirees, but is an improvement of last year’s COLAs of 0.3 percent for Social Security and 0.3 percent for FERS and CSRS.
GET ON THE CALL!
October 10th, 2017 | Posted by in Budget | Did you know? | News | Political | Shutdown - (0 Comments)Your Invited!
AFGE Invites ALL Government Workers & Retirees to participate in a National Union Meeting
- Tuesday, October 10 @ 7:00pm CST OR 9:00pm CST..
ALL government workers — whether they’re an AFGE member or not are WELCOME to join the call.
A budget passed the House of Representatives on Thursday that would cut your pay and retirement. This budget will still need to be voted on by the Senate.
Please be on either of of these calls to learn how you can help to stop these cuts before they become law.
On the 1st call, Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine (Senate Budget Committee) will join, AFGE President David Cox. 
- Call in number: 1-877-229-8493
- Pass Code: 110858#
Don’t use government phones or be in duty status.
Federal Union Calls for Pay Parity in Response to OMB
September 7th, 2017 | Posted by in Did you know? | Web - (0 Comments)
Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer holiday season. While the day honors the hardworking men and women who make this nation go and grow, the weekend also gives us a chance for one more big backyard barbecue blowout. Here’s some union-made food and drink to get your barbecue off to a great start.
Text MADE to 235246 for more union-made-in-America product lists.
Make your holidays Union Made!
Don’t Shut Down the Government!
August 29th, 2017 | Posted by in Budget | Did you know? | Shutdown - (0 Comments)
President Trump has threatened to shut down the government if Congress fails to fund the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
“Believe me, if we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” he said at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Aug. 22.
Trump’s comments came when lawmakers are trying to pass legislation to fund the government beyond the 2017 fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. During his campaign, Trump promised to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and have Mexico pay for it.
Many lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have rejected the idea outright.
“If the President pursues this path, against the wishes of both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the majority of the American people, he will be heading towards a government shutdown which nobody will like and which won’t accomplish anything,” Schumer said in a statement Aug. 23. “In April, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a strong, bipartisan appropriations bill that increased funding for our troops, scientific research, border security, and more.”
Building the wall has been a priority for Trump. Earlier this year when the spending package for border wall construction was stripped from the fiscal 2017 funding bill, Trump signed the bill but vowed to try again.
“Our country needs a good ‘shutdown’ in September to fix mess!” Trump tweeted at the time.
The 2013 government shutdown cost the economy $24 billion. About 850,000 federal employees were furloughed. It cost the government $2 billion in lost productivity.
Having to live with constant threats of a government shutdown every year is extremely demoralizing to the federal workforce and damaging the government’s ability to recruit and retain the best and the brightest.
Buying A House or Refinancing?
August 1st, 2017 | Posted by in Benefits | Did you know? - (0 Comments)
AFFORDABLE ROAD TRIPS?
August 1st, 2017 | Posted by in Benefits | Did you know? | UNION MADE - (0 Comments)
Car Rental Discounts
Whether it’s a car, van, SUV or truck rental, AFGE families can enjoy from 5% up to 25% discount savings on rental cars from Avis, Budget, Hertz, Alamo, Thrifty, National and Dollar Rent a Car.
Discount rental car rates and savings vary depending on the type of car or vehicle, time of year, location and length of car rental reservation.
Join AFGE or login to compare them all for the best deal.
Link: http://www.afge.org
Gallery
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