Willie Haywood Jr. (President, Sixth District Council 262 of the American Federation of Government Employees, representing the National Veterans Affairs Council)
Willie Haywood Jr., National Veterans Affairs Council 262 Sixth District President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss President Biden’s Executive Order 14003, Protecting the Federal Workforce, and its effect on the U.S. Federal Labor Relations Authority.
The Executive Order rescinded a previous Executive Order made by the Trump Administration that closed AFGE union offices on federal land. Since Biden’s decision, AFGE representatives nationwide are allowed to come back to their offices, Haywood said. Local chapters of the AFGE are also being reimbursed for land purchased or rented due to the Trump order. The Biden Executive Order also reimburses union officials for time spent representing federal employees, which had been prohibited under Trump.
Under Executive Order 14003, the Veterans Administration (VA) will reverse course and recognize the AFGE/VA collective bargaining agreement of 2011 as the current contract. That contract will remain in place until a new contract is agreed upon by the AFGE and the agency, Haywood explained.
The Executive Order has boosted the morale of AFGE members, Haywood said.
Lastly, Haywood discussed efforts to boost AFGE membership, which declined during the Trump Administration.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.