HEY! We need you!
Did you know that the Peace Corps Employees Union has 320 employees in the Bargaining Unit as of October 2024? This means that 320 employees are eligible to pay dues, totaling 0.65% of their biweekly gross pay. However, only 47 employees contribute each pay period. Paying dues is crucial to maintaining a strong, effective union that fights for workers’ rights. If you believe in making Peace Corps and the federal government a better place to work, please consider joining us by completing the SF-1187 form and emailing it to [email protected]. 

If you would like to do more than pay dues, volunteering with us is your chance to create change at Peace Corps and grow professionally. We have several opportunities available, including Union Steward, Executive Board Member, Membership Coordinator, Website Designer, Newsletter Editor, and others. Feel free to email us if you have any interest in helping. You can also drop in for Thursday Office Hours or our Biweekly Wednesday Meetings to learn more.

​Opportunities at the Union
Are you interested in volunteering with us? You can find opportunities such as a steward, negotiator, membership coordinator, website designer, newsletter editor, and more on the Union website. If you are a dues-paying member who would like to learn more about a position, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]. You are also welcome to join us virtually for our biweekly lunch meetings on Wednesday or weekly office hours on Thursday. Any help is appreciated, even dedicating 1-2 hours a month to Union work could make a huge difference at Peace Corps.

Countdown Until Election Day
The Presidential Election is on Tuesday, November 5, and the Union encourages you to exercise your right to vote! Visit Vote411.org to register to vote or check your registration status. In addition to Vote411, the League of Women Voter offers a First-Time Voter Checklist to ensure a smooth voting experience, and How to Vote in College: Know Your Rights is a must-read voter guide for students. We also recommended that you learn about early voting options, locate a preferred polling place, confirm if your state requires an ID, and research candidates and issues.
 
Reminder: Peace Corps policy allows employees to request leave to vote with certain exceptions. Please read the handout on leave and voting to see if you are eligible for an excused absence on Election Day.

Dues-Paying Member
Want to become a dues-paying Union member?
Join us

Thank you to everyone who participated in Union Week! Our volunteer day was a success. Because of these members below, we were able to provide laundry kits to the unhoused and deliver greeting cards to hospitalized children.

If you would still like to volunteer for Every Home DC or Cards for Hospitalized Kids, please visit their respective websites for more information.

Union Week: Volunteer Day

We will be hosting 1 in-person and 2 virtual activities from 12:00-2:00 PM EST on Friday, September 6 for Union Week. Please see activity details below.
 
If you plan to attend, please complete the Volunteer Activity Approval Form, and provide it to your supervisor for their signature. Please read the FAQs on PC's Employee Volunteer Program for more information.
 
In-Person Activity: Laundry Kits for the Unhoused
Location: Peace Corps Cafe
Time: 12:00-1:00 PM EST
Contacts: Sylvia Cabus, Josephine Mcgugan
 
Looking for a way to do good while socializing?  Join us in the Peace Corps Cafe where we will be assembling laundry kits for Shirley’s Place, a welcome center for unhoused individuals and families in Washington DC. Shirley’s Place is one of the many programs managed by Everyone Home DC, a community organization dedicated to serving the unhoused community with dignity. All inquiries regarding this activity should be directed to Sylvia Cabus and/or Josephine Mcgugan.
 
Virtual Activity: Meditation/Stretching
Location:​ Zoom
Time: 12:00-12:30 PM EST
Contact: Julee Muro de Gerome
 
Burnt out after a long work week? Join us for a relaxing meditation and stretching session! Julee Muro de Gerome will be leading this activity.
 
Virtual Activity: Cards for Hospitalized Kids
Location: Zoom
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM EST
Contact: Wyland Chapman
 
CFHK is a non-profit organization that distributes general and holiday cards to Children's Hospitals. Join us for the opportunity to create and mail your own card for a hospitalized child. Please review CFHK's Steps for Making General Cards before attending this activity.  Important guidelines include not writing your personal information, addressing anyone by name, and using "Get well" language. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Wyland Chapman.

Mid-Year Appraisal Reminder
 
With mid-year performance appraisals on everyone’s mind, the Union reminds bargaining-unit employees (BUEs) that you are empowered to discuss performance appraisal, salary, and award information with your Peace Corps colleagues. It is important to note that federal employees’ salary information is already available to the public.
 
If you have any questions or concerns on discussing wages, please submit our website’s Contact Form for a consultation with a Union steward.
 

Countdown Until Election Day

As the Presidential Election approaches, the Union encourages you to exercise your right to vote, and that starts with registration! Visit Vote411.org to register to vote or check your registration status. In addition to Vote411, the League of Women Voter offers a First-Time Voter Checklist to ensure a smooth voting experience, and How to Vote in College: Know Your Rights is a must-read voter guide for students. We also recommended that you learn about early voting options, locate a preferred polling place, confirm if your state requires an ID, and research candidates and issues.
 
Reminder: Peace Corps policy allows employees to request leave to vote with certain exceptions. Please read the attached handout on leave and voting to see if you are eligible for an excused absence on Election Day.


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How has the Union helped you?

Our Union is refreshing its New Employee Orientation (NEO) presentation, and we are seeking testimonials that highlight the support we have provided to bargaining unit employees (BUEs). The goal is to move from sharing abstract and distant Union “wins”—like the 40-hour work week—to concrete and recent ones. Testimonials can be anonymous, but the more specific, the better.
 
Example testimonial: “I submitted all the paperwork to get my Peace Corps service buyback processed, but it was taking a long time, and I couldn’t find the right person to reach out to about it. The Union was able to act as the squeaky wheel and expedite that process, so I was finally able to get credit for my service.”
 
Please share a 2-3 sentence testimonial by July 31, either to [email protected] or anonymously through our website’s Contact Form.

Mid-Year Performance Appraisals
Nothing in your mid-year performance appraisal should come as a surprise – per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 15:

• Performance problems and/or substantial failures by the employee to meet any performance standard will be brought to the employee's attention as soon as they occur or are noticed.

 
Please note that your mid-year appraisal should not come with a number score in the new performance management system; it is intended to be more of a conversation between you and your supervisor. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your appraisal, feel free to contact the Union confidentially through our website or join our weekly office hours on Thursday from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EST.

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) Working Group
The FEVS working group is a team that analyzes the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) results and then recommends potential improvements to the PC Director. Work has recently begun, with members reviewing previous years’ survey data. The Union is participating in the working group, as FEVS is an ongoing topic of discussion in the Union, and we believe this is an opportunity to continue advocating for employees. This group has a two-year commitment, and they hope to bring meaningful change to the agency. We encourage all eligible staff to participate in this year's survey, which was released May 5 and closes in June. This is your chance to give the agency a better understanding of your viewpoint on workloads, working conditions, and agency actions.

Greetings, bargaining unit employees! We are excited to bring back our monthly Union newsletter, and in celebration, we would like to provide some reminders about the Peace Corps Employees Union.
 
Dues-Paying Member
​Are you interested in becoming a dues-paying Union member? Join us by submitting the linked form to [email protected]. 0.65% of your biweekly gross pay would contribute to making Peace Corps and the federal government a better place to work.
 
Union Biweekly Lunch Meetings
The Union holds biweekly lunch meetings on Wednesdays from 12:00-1:00pm EST over Zoom. If you would like to attend, please email us for the Zoom link.
 
Contact The Union
​Do you believe your rights may have been violated or have a question about what your rights are? Contact us for a consultation with a Union steward, or join us during our Thursday office hours from 12:00-1:00pm EST.
 
Opportunities At The Union
We are looking for pro-worker bargaining unit employees to volunteer for our Union. Active participants typically dedicate 1-3 hours per week, depending on bandwidth, availability, and interest. You can find opportunities such as a steward, negotiator, content creator, policy editor, website designer, event host, and others on the Union website.