AFGE 1658 Virtual Highway Cleanup Saturday June 27, 2020
Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice
On Wednesday, June 17, working people from Michigan will join with workers in all 50 states to take part in a Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice, a massive national day of action calling for bold policies to confront the three crises facing America: a public health pandemic, an economic free fall and long-standing structural racism. America’s Five Economic Essentials must be combined with policing reforms and implemented in ways that recognize the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on workers of color. This is why working people demand Congress pass the HEROES Act.
Metro Detroit AFL-CIO would like to invite you to participate in our Workers First Caravan for Racial and Economic Justice:
- When:Wednesday, June 17, 2020
- Time: STAGING: 12:30 p.m. LAUNCH: 1:00 p.m.
- Where:START: IBEW Local 58 1358 Abbott St, Detroit, MI 48226 END: Metro Detroit AFL-CIO 115 W. Willis St. Detroit 48201
- Route:TBD (Points of interest: Michigan Labor Legacy Monument [8 minute 46 second tribute and protest of police brutality], Main Post Office Fort St., Detroit Medical Center)
- Action Toolkit: https://toolkit.workersfirstcaravan.org/#h.jsxcq4eigg48
AFGE COVID-19 Resources and Member Benefits
Dear Union Member
As we face the COVID-19 pandemic together, all of us at AFGE understand that your focus is on the health and safety of your families and communities. The pandemic has impacted people across the country and your AFGE team wants you to know we are here for you. Our Local wanted to share with you during this difficult time AFGE Member Benefit resources that may be able to help.
If you are a Union Member:
Many of you already have AFGE Federation Wide Authorized coverage through Colonial Life that may have benefits payable to you during this time. When you last made decisions about your family’s benefits, you likely had no reason to anticipate an emergency of this magnitude. To help address your concerns and risks, remote Benefit Counselors are happy to assist you with reviewing your existing coverage to determine if there are any claims payable to you. If you would like to learn about your options, Colonial Life will be able to help with selecting benefits through a virtual enrollment experience or phone conference to help you prepare for the unexpected.
If you are thinking about joining the Union:
When you become an AFGE member, you join more than 309,000 other government employees who are united to build a government that works for all Americans and not just the rich and powerful. By standing together, AFGE members have a stronger voice when defending your pay, retirement, and job security. You can join the Union to access these valuable coverage options since you must be a Union Member to participate in these benefits.
If you are Retiring soon:
You can continue with your Colonial Life voluntary coverage as long as you keep your AFGE membership fees paid.
To learn more about your available options:
- Your benefits booklet can be found HERE
- Schedule an appointment online by clicking HERE
- You can enroll online by clicking HERE
- Contact the Garland-Hill Agency at
(866) 582-1777 or Info@GarlandHill.com
- Contact our Local’s Benefit Representative
Tami Callahan at (248) 496-0906 or Tami.Callahan@ColonialMI.com
Colonial Union Member Benefits Letter from President 05-05-2020
Some Veterans May Need to Take This Extra Step to Get Their Stimulus Check
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RIGHTS PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires the Federal government to provide all of its employees with paid sick leave and, for employees who are covered under Title I of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
► PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS
Generally, the Federal government must provide Federal employees:
Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at:
• 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total; and
• 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total.
Federal employees including those not covered under Title I of the FMLA can receive either 2/3 of the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage for the two-week period for qualifying reason #5 below. However, for leave under qualifying reason #5, Federal employees covered under Title I of the FMLA can receive 10 additional weeks of expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below, up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.
A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period.
► ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
All Federal employees are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below). Federal employees who are covered under Title I of the FMLA and have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request are eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below.
Most federal employees are not covered under Title I of the FMLA and so would not be eligible for partially paid expanded family and medical leave. Please consult with your agency to determine whether you are covered under Title I of the FMLA. The Office of Personnel and Management will issue guidance on this question.
► QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19
A Federal employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee:
- is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
- has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
- is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
- is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
- is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or
- is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
► ENFORCEMENT
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and enforce compliance with the FFCRA for Federal employers covered under Title I of the FMLA. Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a proceeding under or related to this Act. Federal employers covered under Title I of the FMLA in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties and enforcement by WHD.
For additional information or to file a complaint: 1-866-487-9243 TTY: 1-877-889-5627 dol.gov/agencies/whd
AFGE Local 1658 Operational Status
DoD Collective Bargaining Rights Are on The Line
Your voice at work – and the voices of nearly half a million Department of Defense employees – is about to be silenced by this administration.
On February 21, 2020, this administration published in the Federal Register a memo from President Trump to Defense Secretary Mark Esper delegating to the Defense Secretary the power to deny Department of Defense workers the freedom to collectively bargain. Their rationale?
They want increased flexibility for national security reasons. This is a direct attack on your freedom to join your union and use your voice to bargain for a better life at work. Defense employees, many of whom are veterans themselves, aren’t a threat to national security – we are there ensuring proper staffing, resources, and training so our country and our brave service members stay safe.
Before it’s too late, you must send two important emails to urge Congress to act and fend off these assaults on your rights. The Senate and House Armed Services Committees must hear from DoD workers across the nation about the serious damage this will do to your rights and to the Department’s mission.
Click here to email the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.
We must act now before it’s too late. Take these actions today!
In Solidarity,
AFGE
CDC Corona Virus Information
This is official notification that the Department for Health and Human Services, Center For Disease Control (CDC) has provided Federal Agencies with material and information, (See link below), due to public concerns of the Corona Virus and personal hygiene. This information will be placed on Agency bulletin boards and may also be placed in common areas such as rest rooms and break rooms where hand washing may occur. .
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Fact Sheets and Posters
Click here to link to the CDC website on COVID19
An Important Update
As I said in earlier messages to AFGE employees and members, the National Executive Council made a commitment to being transparent with our members and our employees on any development related to the serious allegations of misconduct that have been made against J. David Cox. Today, we have an important update for you.
Today, February 28, 2020, J. David Cox Sr. resigned as AFGE National President effective at the close of business. In accepting his resignation, AFGE concluded the processing of the November 2019 internal charges and former president Cox has forfeited his right to hold or run for any AFGE elected office in perpetuity. This resignation does not affect the investigation being conducted by Working IDEAL, nor does it alter AFGE’s commitment to process the February 2020 or future charges filed against Cox pursuant to the AFGE Constitution.
Per the AFGE Constitution, the National Secretary-Treasurer assumes the office of AFGE National President on the occasion of the National President’s resignation.
Thanks to the incredible solidarity of our members, your spirit, your determination, and your focus, the important work AFGE performs every day on behalf of the 700,000 federal and D.C. government employees we represent has continued uninterrupted as we have gone through this difficult period as a union. As I assume the role of National President, I am certain that our great union will continue leading the fight against attacks on our members’ pay, benefits, retirement, and rights on the job.
Even while we do that, we know that there is still work that we can do to improve our culture here at AFGE and make sure our own actions as a union align with our values. We remain fully committed to continuing to pursue those changes, like our recently introduced Code of Conduct for all AFGE events. We will continue to keep you updated as we pursue and implement further changes.
Thank you for the patience and understanding you have shown throughout this process, and I look forward to serving AFGE as your National President.
In Solidarity,
Everett B. Kelley
National Secretary-Treasurer, AFGE