About Womens and Fair Practices
Under the leadership of the National Vice President for Women's and Fair Practices, the Women's and Fair Practices Departments are devoted to promoting the civil, human, women's and workers' rights of federal and D.C. government workers. In 2002, the Women's and Fair Practices Departments responded to more than 1,000 telephone and e-mail inquiries from Local Presidents, Coordinators, Stewards, complainants, and grievances regarding the EEO complaint process, anti-discrimination laws in general, medical and/or family friendly leave and overall workplace concerns. Since 2003, one of the departments' main goals has been to research, fight against, and educate others of the vast changes proposed by the former EEOC Chair Domínguez for the agency. In protecting government workers from discrimination, the departments not only work on individual cases, but also write policy recommendations and work on issues of importance to AFGE members. Additionally, the Fair Practices Department has accepted numerous cases for direct representation from across the nation that meets our criteria of precedent value or substantial impact to the Federation. In 2005 the departments’ focused on strengthening the education and training component of our program highlighting the importance of the Coordinator structure and the EEO process. We shared this with the Locals through Coordinator/EEO Institute trainings which took place in a number of districts throughout the year.
The Women's and Fair Practices Departments mobilize around several issues of importance to union members. Using email and phone bank resources, we respond to threats against workers' rights in the Administration's proposal to strip collective bargaining and civil service protections from workers in the Homeland Security Department. We are also waging a fight against efforts by the EEOC to eliminate hearing rights for EEO complainants. Additionally, we mobilize to fight privatization of government jobs to generous campaign contributors.
We have completed the preparation and are currently implementing AFGE's Strategic Plan. Contact your District's National Fair Practices Affirmative Action Coordinator (NFPAAC) and your National Women's Advisory Coordinator (NWAC) to see how you can help improve your work environment, maintain job security, and keep America as the nation we know and love. There is work for everyone, and plenty of opportunity for you to make a difference in areas you care about. This is a call to action for all AFGE members and potential members. Please browse this site to learn more about the Women's and Fair Practices Departments, its coordinators, staff, the equal employment law, and family-friendly issues. For bi-monthly updates on AFGE's activities around civil, human and workers' rights read our newsletter, The Equalizer that is available on-line or in print. We welcome your thoughts and comments to eeo@afge.org.