What is a Union?
A union is an organization formed by workers who join together and use their strength to have a voice in their workplace. Through their union, workers have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength with employers over wages, benefits, workplace health and safety, job training and other work-related issues. Unions also serve an important role making sure that management acts fairly and treats its workers with respect.
Unions are democratic organizations and its leaders are elected by the membership.
Unions are democratic organizations and its leaders are elected by the membership.
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We are proud to be part of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which has 1.3 million members in public sector unions across the USA and a storied history as a leading organization in the labor and civil rights movements.
<watch this video to learn more about AFSCME's history! |
Why do I need a union?
You work in public service because you care about your community. We can do more for our neighbors, our families, and each other if we speak with one voice. When we organize as a union, we gain the strength to make real change. Together, we speak with one voice that no one can ignore — not our bosses, not the people we serve, and not our elected officials at any level.
Do union workers get higher wages?
Yes. Workers who are union members earn 26.2 percent more than non-union workers. The difference is even greater for women and people of color. Women and African Americans represented by unions earn between 29.7 and 33.1 percent more than their non-union counterparts. And Latino workers with the union advantage make 47.1 percent more than those not represented by a union.
Do union workers get better benefits?
Yes. Union workers are more likely than their non-union counterparts to have access to health care and pension benefits. Ninety-five percent of union members have health insurance and a pension plan available — versus approximately 68 percent (health insurance) and 63 percent (pension) of those not in a union.
Why do I need a union now?
Some politicians and pundits like to blame public service workers for America’s problems. They say we earn too much, our benefits our too rich, and we have too much political power. They slash our budgets and take our pensions. They give our jobs away to private contractors who pay lower wages.
But public service workers are the backbone of the American middle class. Together, we fight for prosperity and opportunity for all working families.
They want to privatize our jobs, strip us of our rights, and dismantle the services we provide to make our communities stronger and safer. No one who works for the public, no one who cares about supporting a family, no one who cares about building a strong middle class should let that happen.
We have to act now to stop the attacks on our rights and our ability to earn a decent living. That’s why helping more workers join unions and bargain for a better life is so important.
As a union, we work together to build political support for the vital services we provide. We make our families, our communities, and our country stronger.
What is collective bargaining and how does it work?
Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employees and their employer over wages, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights.
A committee of our co-workers — chosen by us — sits down and hammers out an agreement known as a "union contract" on every issue of concern to our bargaining unit. The committee sits at the bargaining table as equals with management.
In settings such as home-based care, a committee of provider/members — chosen by us — meets with representatives of the appropriate public agency to discuss issues affecting our daily lives. The union bargaining committee represents the united strength of all union members.
The majority of members must approve the agreement before it can become accepted as a contract.
What has the Union done for me?
Many things - recently the Union fought for these issues that affects nearly all Peace Corps employees:
- Backpay after government shutdowns
- Credit hours without supervisory approval
- Transit benefits
About AFSCME Local 3548
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Union Local 3548 represents all Collective Bargaining Unit (CBU) employees of the United States Peace Corps. AFSCME Local 3548 is run by its members and their elected officers. Stewards, including a Chief Steward, are appointed by the Local Officers to work on issues of importance to the Local. Local 3548 coordinates with the larger AFSCME body through a District of Columbia council of AFSCME Locals (Council 20).
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) certified the Peace Corps Union on May 11,1983, as the exclusive representative of all Peace Corps nonprofessional employees nationwide including part-time and intermittent employees. Excluded from the CBU are supervisors, management officials, professional employees, summer and student aides, internal audit staff employees, overseas employees, and employees described in 5 U.S.C. 7112(b) (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7).
The Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) certified the Peace Corps Union on May 11,1983, as the exclusive representative of all Peace Corps nonprofessional employees nationwide including part-time and intermittent employees. Excluded from the CBU are supervisors, management officials, professional employees, summer and student aides, internal audit staff employees, overseas employees, and employees described in 5 U.S.C. 7112(b) (2), (3), (4), (6) and (7).
Rights negotiated by the Union on behalf of the CBU are embodied within the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current CBA became effective on April 21, 1995. Two previous CBAs have existed, one from 1985, and one from 1990.
Like all Federal employee unions, AFSCME 3548 is "Open Shop." This means that membership in the Union is not required to be covered by the CBA and represented by the Union. Membership in the Union allows employees to participate in Union business, and negotiate/interact with Management on behalf of the CBU.
History
According to Saul Schniderman, previous President of the Library of Congress's AFSCME Local and President of AFSCME Council 26, the Peace Corps Union Local was originally with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) until the early seventies. At that time, a number of AFGE Locals (including the one at the Peace Corps) wanted AFGE to take a more militant stand against the Vietnam War. This created a split within AFGE, and the Peace Corps and the other locals left AFGE. Eventually, many of them were reconsituted under a new AFSCME Council, Council 26.
According to Saul Schniderman, previous President of the Library of Congress's AFSCME Local and President of AFSCME Council 26, the Peace Corps Union Local was originally with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) until the early seventies. At that time, a number of AFGE Locals (including the one at the Peace Corps) wanted AFGE to take a more militant stand against the Vietnam War. This created a split within AFGE, and the Peace Corps and the other locals left AFGE. Eventually, many of them were reconsituted under a new AFSCME Council, Council 26.