ARE YOU COVID-19 POSITIVE?
November 29th, 2020 | Posted by in Benefits | CORONAVIRUS | Did you know? | FMLA | Uncategorized - (0 Comments)
Lawmakers Push to Protect Leave, Allow Feds to Opt Out of Tax Deferral
October 13th, 2020 | Posted by in Budget | CORONAVIRUS | Deferred TAX | Did you know? - (0 Comments)AFGE voices support for members of Congress who are trying to shield federal workers from the ill effects of COVID-19 by protecting their leave and allowing them to opt out of the ill-conceived tax deferral scheme.
Our union applauds a bipartisan group of 43 House lawmakers led by Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., who urged the Trump administration to allow federal workers to opt out of the tax deferral plan that defers payroll taxes between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. Employees will have to pay it back by May 1, 2021.
AFGE President Everett Kelley initially urged Secretary Mnuchin to make it opt-in, or at the very least opt-out.
AFGE also supports new legislation introduced in the House and Senate that would waive the 30-day annual leave cap for all federal employees.
Normally, federal workers can only carry over 30 days of annual leave from one year to another. But because of COVID-19, the Office of Personnel Management waived the 30-day cap for those deemed essential workers by their agency.
The Federal Worker Leave Fairness Act introduced by Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., in the House and Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, in the Senate, would extend the OPM waiver to all federal workers because there are several factors that prevent employees from taking annual leave, including state and local travel restrictions.
“Thousands of dedicated federal workers have been tirelessly responding to the coronavirus pandemic, including U.S. Postal Service employees, Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration workers, and National Institutes of Health researchers,” Senator Hirono said. “Our nation has leaned on them as they deliver medicines and Social Security checks, assist Americans with filing their taxes, develop a vaccine, and provide other vital services. This bill makes sure that no federal worker loses their leave because of this or any future pandemic.”
“Federal workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic to maintain the Navy’s readiness to respond to national security threats and have avoided unnecessary travel to minimize health risks that could threaten this important work,” said Rep. Kilmer. “They shouldn’t have to sacrifice the paid leave benefits they’ve earned because they chose to prioritize national service…Federal workers shouldn’t have to choose between working to support our nation or using their earned benefits before the end of the year.”
PROTECTION FROM INJURIES ON THE JOB
June 4th, 2020 | Posted by in Benefits | CORONAVIRUS | WORKERS COMPENSATION - (0 Comments)New Workers Comp Procedures Make It Easier
for
Feds Exposed to COVID-19 to Get Benefits
The Department of Labor has issued new procedures to make it easier for high-risk federal employees to get workers compensation if they contract coronavirus.
DOL’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) will now accept that if federal employees who work in high-risk positions, such as front-line medical personnel, first responders, and law enforcement officers, contract COVID-19, their illness is “proximately caused by the nature of their work.”
Prior to the change, an employee had to prove that he/she was infected at work, and with community spread, that would be hard to do. The change makes it easier for them to get the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve.
“Federal workers in such positions routinely encounter situations that may lead to infection by contact with sneezes, droplet infection, bodily secretions, and surfaces on which the COVID-19 virus may reside,” OWCP said. “Therefore, the employment-related incidence of COVID-19 is more likely to occur among members of law enforcement, first responders and front-line medical and public health personnel, and among those whose employment causes them to come into direct and frequent in-person and close proximity contact with the public.”
Our union supports this change.
“Health care workers and first responders are risking their lives to serve the American public during this challenging time and, if they contract COVID-19 while performing those duties, they should not have to worry about proving it’s work-related,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley. “AFGE has been fighting for presumption of workplace illness for all essential employees working through the pandemic, and this is a step in the right direction.”
AFGE is also working with members of Congress to pass a new COVID-19 bill that includes several of our union’s priorities, including a presumption of worksite illness. Under this provision, employees who must interact with the public, who have been quarantined, or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 during the performance of their duties will be presumed to have contracted the virus at work.
AFGE FIGHTS TO KEEP EMPLOYEES SAFE
June 4th, 2020 | Posted by in CORONAVIRUS | Did you know? | National Updates - (0 Comments)EPA’s Dishonesty, Lies Raise Concerns Over Office Reopening Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to reopen offices in at least five of the 10 regions, but its dishonesty, lack of transparency, and at times outright lies about the reopening process have created confusion and fear among workers compelled to return to their offices amid the outbreak of the deadly virus.
The EPA is moving forward with its plan to reopen offices in regions 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10, but unlike some other federal agencies, it has not shared with employees and their union detailed plans and analysis to support its decision to reopen the offices.
Senior managers had earlier told employees’ union representatives they would be included in agency plans to reopen EPA offices both at the regional and national levels, but they failed to do so. The agency provided no documented justification for the decision either. Preparations to reopen these offices are already underway, and the employees were not informed until the day the process began.
“It’s a total mystery. It’s upsetting,” said AFGE Deputy General Counsel Cathie McQuiston. “They are not meeting the legal obligation with the union.”
Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, EPA employees have adapted themselves exceptionally well, working remotely to keep the important work of the agency going.
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler himself praised EPA workers for their seamless transition to telework and productiveness during this time. The data shows this increase in EPA productivity.
EPA Council 238 President Gary Morton said it is particularly telling that the agency refuses to share data and plans with a workforce heavy in scientific expertise. He took issue with Wheeler’s lack of transparency and justification to reopen the offices without input from the workforce.
“We are committed to the success of EPA, and many of us have spent the better part of our lifetimes to make it so,” Morton said. “You say the health and safety of EPA employees and their dependents is your highest priority. We beg you to keep your word.”
Public Service Recognition Week begins Monday, May 4 and AFGE is excited to kick off the week with a telephone town hall.
During this call we’ll welcome members of Congress to join us and speak about their efforts to support government workers.
We’ll also share about our own work in supporting and advocating for dedicated public servants throughout the week.
Please join us MONDAY, May 4, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. EDT (7PM Central Time) for our telephone town hall.
Call-in information:
866-641-6941
We look forward to having you on this important call and celebrating your contributions during Public Service Recognition Week.
In Solidarity,
Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President
From the start of this rapidly developing health crisis, AFGE has been pushing for immediate action to help protect our members and the public we serve – and winning important victories.
In this week’s newsletter we’ve included important updates and an overview of the actions we’ve taken in the last week to fight for the health and safety of government employees.
PETITION TO CONGRESS
Congress has moved swiftly in recent weeks to approve historic levels of emergency funding to help our country withstand the coronavirus pandemic. Yet more help is needed for the government workers who are on the front lines of this rapidly evolving health crisis.
HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDANCE
AFGE’s Field Services and Education Department put together the video below to help members understand basic guidance related to health and safety on the job during the coronavirus pandemic.
PPE GUIDANCE
If there is a lack of personal protective equipment at your facility there are a few steps you can take to address this issue.
- Collect information in writing about what is available and what is not
- Share information with the agency, in writing, letting them know of the shortages
- Notify your local, council, district, and the national office
- File an OSHA complaint
- Notify your coworkers and get them involved
- Grieve it
- Notify the press
Click here for more detailed information on these steps and how you can take action.
SUPPORT FRONT LINE WORKERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Many of our members are serving on the front lines of this global pandemic. We’ve created a Facebook photo frame for members to use on their profile. Click here to use the frame on your profile! Note: Do not use a picture in uniform or from the work site.
Please regularly check afge.org/Coronavirus to view important coronavirus updates.
Note: Information on this site is not intended to substitute for actual medical care or professional medical advice. If you believe you are, or may be ill, contact your primary care health provider immediately. Information on this website may change as the situation/recommendations/resources evolve. Please check back frequently.
Sincerely,
Dr. Everett Kelley
AFGE National President
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