As we celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or another holiday this month, Council 100 wishes you all a healthy and warm holiday season! Your uphill struggle has not, and will not, go unnoticed. The quote “There’s never a substitute for hard work” explains our situation today. Hard work is riding the TSA roller coaster, day in and day out, deprived of proper compensation and lack of Federal Title 5 rights, wherein our sister and brother agencies currently possess.
From the time when TSA was created, we have been fighting for what we warrant as essential needs from our employer. In a perfect world, livable wages and a fair contract would be considered standard, when it comes to working within the Federal Government. Notably, that has certainly not been the case for Transportation Security Officers. Through the years, our Officers have faced many challenges with employee retention, rising inflation, poor work conditions just to name a few, generating an unnecessary incumbrance on the workforce.
The sun is finally shining through the clouds! This year, we are TREMENDOUSLY proud to announce a new ground zero, for our labor movement. We have been granted a pay scale mirroring the GS pay scale that includes a progressive pay increase with time served. This large step places us into the arena of no longer creating jobs yet creating careers, that workers can finally obtain livable wages and take pride in their work. Although the budget includes the funding and expanded collective bargaining, this is far from the end. We will continue the fight until Title 5, to include GS pay and full Collective Bargaining rights are secured and become law.
In addition, you will also receive an approximate 4.6% pay increase beginning Pay Period 1. While this is great news, the train does not stop here. There will be many more positive changes soon, and always remember, the agency has never GIVEN us anything! AFGE has fought for EVERYTHING we have, from paid parking, annual and sick leave, FMLA, breakrooms, paid parental leave, salary increases, uniform allowances, and the list goes on. We are proud to have you as members of the largest Federal employee Union in this fight. AFGE is not just about our leaders, it is about our members. Strength is in numbers, and we are getting larger and stronger every day.
Have a well-deserved safe and relaxing Holiday with your loved ones.
Happy Holidays,
Hydrick Thomas, President | Mac Johnson, Council Executive Vice President | Johnny Jones, Council Secretary-Treasurer | Thomas Schoregge, Region 1 V.P. | John Hubert, Region 2 V.P. | Janis Casey, Region 3 V.P. | Becky Mancha, Region 4 V.P. | Greg Biel, Region 5 V.P. | Bobby Orozco Jr., Region 6 V.P. | Joe Shuker, Region 7 V.P. | Victor Payes Martinez, Fair Practices Coordinator | Concetta Fialkowski, Women’s Coordinator | Christopher Blessing, AFGE Council 100 Attorney