THE NION DVOCA E ULocal 987 ProudA to make America work JJan.an . 221, 1, 22021021 Five webinars part COVID challenges will continue of AFGE January By HENRY BROWN providing dynamic represen- local has been challeng- Executive VP, AFGE Local 987 tation to our diverse mem- ing and breaking employ- [email protected] bership, which crisscrosses ment norms on behalf of the breath and width of the our members and it has not training opportunities et us not seek Robins community. been easy. We have lost too the Republican Inevitable, uniting and many members of our local From reports Representation: “Lanswer or the representing a broad mem- to this pandemic. Grievance handling Democratic answer, but the bership is challenging, but However, there is great AFGE has scheduled Jan. 23, 1-5 p.m. right answer. Let us not we are winning in the courts news on the horizon in the a number of webinars to Synopsis: This new and seek to fix the blame for as well as having great suc- form of a vaccination. Along close out January and popular four-hour webi- the past. Let us accept our cess in the grievance process. with the great news of a begin February. All are free nar teaches local stewards own responsibility for the There has been a unity of vaccine there is ambivalence to members. Visit afge.org specific skills and strate- future.” – John F. Kennedy purpose with so many of our and a skepticism with tak- to sign up. gies for filing and process- As we continue our matu- stewards; I will admit that ing the shot; there is a great The webinars are as fol- ing grievances effectively, ration both as a local and the many of us that will take Henry Brown there is room for growth in lows: including identifying leadership of the union, this the process but there is no the shot. I would also be grievances, interviewing is an opportunity to reflect succinctly captures some of shortage of dogged determi- remiss if there was no men- Reopening amidst a employees, and sources of on the challenges that we tion of the number of recov- the challenges facing your nation. global pandemic evidence. will face as COVID contin- The rising figures on infec- eries from the pandemic. local as we challenge man- Jan. 22, 4-6 p.m. The prerequisite for ues to ravage our local. tions suggest that the pan- However, it is not all Synopsis: This training this webinar is the basic COVID is changing the agement on behalf of the demic has not yet reached good news obviously. The provides an overview of the Stewards Orientation workforce, some for the good membership. There is the its peak on the installation. death rates have more than phases of reopening agency webinar which overviews of our membership, which inherent responsibility of Since March 2020, your See BROWN, page 4 offices and worksites. the role of the Steward, Participants will learn Structure of AFGE, and about their rights, roles, one of the most impor- and responsibilities, as well tant laws that outlines the as management responsi- rights of union representa- bilities, during this three- tives - 5 USC Chapter 71. AFL-CIO holds Dr. Martin Luther King phased process. Participants can also Topics to be discussed take the self-paced basic include: requirements for stewards trainings found worksite hygiene, mask in the Stewards Toolkit on Jr. Civil, Human Rights Conference wearing, and ventila- AFGE Learn to complete tion, and what to do if an the prerequisite. employee becomes ill from Participants should By DON MONCRIEF exposure to COVID-19. See WEBINARS, page 4 Editor, The Union Advocate [email protected] The 2021 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin In memory ... Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference was held – virtu- ally – Jan. 15-16. Eric Brady The two-day event featured a num- Passed away December 2020 ber of guest speakers. Those includ- ed AFGE National President Dr. Member since November 2005 Everett Kelley (his remarks are tran- scribed and included in a separate article), AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (his remarks also includ- ed), AFL-CIO Vice President Gebre and Steelworkers International Vice President Fred Redmond (they wel- comed attendees via a back-and- forth script), AFL-CIO Secretary- Treasurer Liz Shuler (her comments FROM PROTEST TO POWER also in a separate story) and NAACP President Derrick Johnson (as mod- Membership meeting erated by Washington State Labor Local 987 will have a membership meet- Council Secretary-Treasurer April Sims). WHEN WE FIGHT, WE WIN! ing Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. It will be held It also included a number of break- via Zoom. Membership will be verified out sessions. They included: “We are all essential: Coronavirus and “Covid-19 vaccines: What you need A virtual awards ceremony honor- before you are admitted into the meet- its impact on frontline workers,” to know”, “Big flipping deal: Field ing Stacey Abrams, Helen Butler, ing/teleconference. To that end, you must “Building the beloved community notes from Arizona and Georgia” Rebecca DeHart, AFT Secretary- ensure you have a current email on file within the labor movement” (see and “Not all heroes wear capes: Treasurer Emeritus Dr. Lorretta or you will not be able to call in. You can separate story), “Building power Black women saved our democracy Johnson, Deborah Scott, Nse’ from the ground up: What to know and how all women can help carry Ufot and the Labor Coalition for make updates by calling Union Hall at about the census and redistricting,” the load” (see separate story). Community was also held. 478-922-5758 or by emailing Linda Baxter at [email protected] or Jeanette McElhaney at [email protected].) Reflection ‘Building community within ‘Black women saved the labor movement’ Official Notice: By DON MONCRIEF AFGE Local 987 is now accepting bids our democracy’ Editor, The Union Advocate on the replacement of 15 windows for [email protected] By DON MONCRIEF “Radical progress: Building the beloved community the property located at 1764 Watson Editor, The Union Advocate within the labor movement” was one of the sessions Blvd., and bids for A/C modifications [email protected] offered during Jan. 15-16’s virtual 2021 MLK Civil (adding a dehumidifier to the current Reflection. That was part of the message AFL-CIO and Human Right conference. system). Contact Linda Baxter at Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler had for those attend- Panelists for the segment were Jeremy Lannan, AFGE ing the AFL-CIO’s 2021 MLK Civil and Human Rights National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices, 478-922-5758 to make an appoint- conference Jan. 15 and 16. Montserrat Garibay, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas ment to view the property and system. Shuler reflected on losses this past year: “The tre- AFL-CIO, Claude Cummings Jr., Communications mendous loss of lives, of jobs, threats to our commu- Workers of America District 6 Vice President Claude nity, our economy and democracy.” Cummings, Will Sullivan (title unknown) and mod- She also reflected on gains: “The incoming admin- erator Tracy Lai, AFL-CIO Vice President of Human istration. And Georgia. And the U.S. Senate (seats Rights. won).” They addressed a number of questions – many from GA PAID She also reflected “specifically”, she said, about those listening in during the question and answer ses- U.S. Postage Non-Profit.org Permit No. 100 Warner Robins, Warner what is “owed to black women.” sion. One was to talk about what steps their See REFLECTION, page 3 See COMMUNITY, page 3 Women, Fair Practices division to hold EEO and ADAAA training By JEREMY LANNAN and others on ADAAA and ■ Feb. 8: noon-2 p.m. and AFGE National Vice President EEO issues in the wake of 6-8 p.m. Women and Fair Practices the COVID-19 pandemic. ■ Feb. 9: 8-10 p.m. Our robust training sched- ■ Feb. 11: 6-8 p.m. As the COVID-19 pan- ule is below. All are Eastern All trainings can also be demic continues into the Standard Time. found on AFGE’s events new year, we are proud to ■ Jan. 25: noon-2 p.m. webpage at: www.afge. offer training on your Equal and 6-8 p.m. org/events. If you have Employment Opportunity ■ Jan. 28: 9-11 a.m. and any questions or concerns, and Americans with 8-10 p.m. please contact Women’s and Disabilities Act Amendments ■ Jan. 30: 10 a.m.-noon Fair Practices Departments Act protections in the face attendees with the skills ■ Feb. 1: 6-8 p.m. Program Specialist Denver of COVID-19. and insights needed to be ■ Feb. 2: 8-10 p.m. Supinger at Denver. AFGE Local 987 Blvd 1764 Watson 31099 Robins, GA Warner This training will provide advocates for themselves ■ Feb. 6: 10 a.m.-noon [email protected]. PAGE 2THE UNION ADVOCATE JAN. 21, 2021 NDAA expands benefits BBB offers tips for trusting for federal workers your tax preparer By AFGE LEADERSHIP 5 who were inadvertently force, and fully burdened ost people get help filing their tax preparer credentials excluded from 2019 legisla- costs. taxes, either from computer soft- on the IRS website. ■ Thanks to our union’s tion, including workers at ■ Protecting military Mware or a professional tax pre- Keep a watchful grassroots mobilization the Department of Veterans medical treatment facilities parer. In addition, some filers may have eye for promises. Be and support from mem- Affairs, Transportation Before DoD can downsize questions regarding COVID-19’s impact on wary of any tax prep- bers of Congress on both Security Administration or realign military medical their personal taxes.