Brothers and Sisters.
It has been quite the whirlwind these last couple days and I am pretty sure that it will be for quite some time to come. Many different views coming across social media and the news in regards to the election and what it means for all.
I know we all have different views and feelings when it comes down to many different aspects of life. This includes the political sides of things and the elections. That is OK. That’s all a part of what makes us individuals and what makes the world go round. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that.
It is important that each and everyone of you know, that no matter what side of the isle you are on politically, we stand together as ONE with the Union. As we stay ready and steadfast in our duties to protect the flying public on the front lines; know that OUR Union is just as committed to stay ready and steadfast to protect OUR rights as Government Employees. Not only our rights, but also protecting our pay, our benefits, and essentially, our families.
Our jobs can be hard enough without the political aspects of everything. Stay kind to each other.
As always, I thank each of you for everything you do each and every day.
In Solidarity,
Rebecca Wolf, Local President
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES
COUNCIL OF TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
LOCALS (COUNCIL 100), AFL-CIO
Council 100 Statement on Presidential Election Results
As we grapple with the national election results and what they will mean for federal employees in a Trump second-term presidency, we must—above all—remain hopeful, steadfast, and focused on doing what we have always done: Fight for the rights of our members at all costs. We, as federal employees, realize, more than most, the potential damage a Project 2025 agenda could cause immediately and in the long-term of Civil Service employees through Schedule F enactment, attacks on our labor rights, including against official time and negotiated collective bargaining agreements, and the empowerment of management to challenge our union and its leaders.
The last three months have been a whirlwind of sending texts, making calls, knocking doors, and talking one-on-one with friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers. We know it has been stressful leading to political anxiety up until receiving these recently obtained results—and now, many feel more scared, nervous, and uncertain of what the future may bring. We understand it will not be easy, especially in the early days of digesting this outcome, however, we must conjure up hopefulness over hopelessness, fearlessness over fearfulness, faith over faithlessness, strength over capitulation, fight over flight, and action over complacency.
While the days may seem dark and filled with newly acquired trepidation, be comforted in knowing that the sun still rises, our loved ones surround us, our beliefs sustain us, our principles guide us, our faith restores us, and together, we are as powerful as we allow ourselves to be. We must not be resigned to the compliance of loss, but resolute in our defiance to never be defeated. Truly, when considering where we stand, we know that we prepared for this moment; we intentionally negotiated a seven-year contract with this very possibility in mind. While we are realistic that this may not provide complete immunity, it does give us time to defend it through legal channels if necessary.
We are grateful for all the work that each of you put in to fight for the outcome that we did not receive, but as we are always aware, our fight is never done, and we do not surrender! There is much more work to do—now more than ever. We still live in the greatest country in the world; and it is this way because we do not lay down and accept the unacceptable, we do not sit back while others stand and fight, we get up, get out, and we fight like hell to ensure we leave this world better than we found it. This is not a new struggle, it was evident in the Women’s, Civil Rights, and Labor movements—but we won then, and we will win again! These next two months will include strategic planning in the fight for our future.
Onward,
AFGE Council 100
Hydrick Thomas, Council President | Mac Johnson, Executive Vice President | Johnny Jones, Council Secretary-Treasurer Carlos Rodriguez, Region 1 V.P. | John Hubert, Region 2 V.P. | Janis Casey, Region 3 V.P. | Becky Mancha, Region 4 V.P. Duncan McGuire, Region 5 V.P. | Bobby Orozco Jr., Region 6 V.P. | Joe Shuker, Region 7 V.P. | Victor Payes Martinez, Council Fair Practices Coordinator | Council of Transportation Security Administration Locals, Council 100, AFL-CIO
