CONTRACT NEGOCIATIONS BEGINS!
Officials from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) met last week to begin discussions on contract proposals.  Click here to download pdf for more information!

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AN EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT
The White House announced that President Obama signed an Executive Order creating Labor-Management Forums and establishing the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations.   The Council shall advise the President on matters involving labor-management relations in the executive branch.
Click here to learn more!!! 

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LOCAL LABOR MOVEMENT DIGS DEEP FOR HOLIDAYS
Financial contributions have come from AFGE Local 3615, Sheet Metal Workers Local 100, CWA Local 2108, Boilermakers Local 193, SEIU Local 500, Washington-Balrimore Newspaper Guild (CWA 32035) the American Federation of Teachers and the management and staff at the Letter Carriers Health Benefit Plan. “All of this tremendous work and generosity will help make the holidays that much brighter for many area working families,” says McKirchy. “Thanks to all and to all a Happy New Year!”
Click here for MORE UNION CITY! 

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Members can save on out-of-pocket health costs with Union Plus Health Savings programs, which include a no-cost prescription card, vision and dental discounts, as well as physician and hospital discounts.  Union members can save 15-60% off healthy living programs including gym memberships at over 10,000 fitness clubs, wellness coaching, smoking cessation programs, NutriSystem, and more with the Union Plus Health Club discount.  For consumer health care advice including treatment and hospital ratings, health insurance guidance, online symptom checker, product reviews, and more, members can subscribe to Consumer Reports Health for only $12 -- a 30% discount.
Click here to learn more!

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 AFGE LOCAL 3615 CONTRIBUTES TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF DISABILITY ADJUDICATION AND REVIEW'S 2009 DIVERSITY COMMEMORATION


Tom Webb, President of AFGE Local 3615 addressed Social Security Administration employees and management reminding both of the Local's involvement with and support of all SSA/ODAR Advisory Councils. Tom Webb said, "AFGE is committed to working in partnership with the Agency to ensure that SSA provides both world class service to the public and a world class work environment for our employees."  AFGE Local 3615 is a very strong supporter, advocate and inforcer of Title VII which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. Webb also commended the words of the keynote speaker, Dr. Fredrick Soto, Deputy Director of the Office of Diversity and Outreach at the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Local also provided a booth at the event manned by Elaine Mitcehell, steward and member of Local 3615's Women's and Fairpractices Department and Tom Higgins, the Local's benefits representative.
Learn more about TITLE VII and Unlawful Employemt Practices.

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For more than 10 years, AFGE has battled to stop the outsourcing of government work and our work on this issue finally has come to fruition. In August, President Obama issued government-wide guidelines directing federal agencies to end their overreliance on contractors, which he said “can lead to the erosion of the inhouse capacity that is essential to effective government performance
Learn more in the GOVERNMENT STANDARD.

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AFGE Local 3615 Election Results/Notice
The following individuals were nominated and elected by acclamation at the October 23, 2009 membership meeting:
President                                  Thomas R. Webb
1st Vice President                   Barbara J. Jackson
2nd Vice President                  Errol B. Sperling
Treasurer                                  Pierre Tavoularis
Corresponding Secretary       Kenneth Wright
Recording Secretary                Frank Haddock

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