Local federal worker union reacts to White House deadline to resign
“like a slap in the face to know that he doesn’t entrust in us”
ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) - Another pause was put on an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. Just 12 hours before the deadline for millions of federal workers to accept a buyout offer, federal judges put that on hold.
“Working for the Department of Veteran Affairs under the largest union, federal union, American Federation of Government Employees, I took it personal, it was very personal for me,” said Jovianna Snead, President of AFGE Local 2192.
Snead is the union president representing some 900 federal employees in the St. Louis area.
The Trump istration originally advised around 5-10% of federal employees to opt into a deferred resignation by Friday.
“A lot of us have been in these jobs for a very long time, and we’re going to stay here, we’re not going anywhere,” said Snead.
U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt says that’s a normal process for any company.
“There’s a voluntary buyout offer that if people want to take it, that’s not unusual, state governments do that, companies do that. So, I think that they just want to make sure that people are committed moving forward, showing up to work, and giving their best effort, there’s a lot of great people who work in the federal government but there’s also a lot of waste and abuse that we’re trying to get at here,” said Senator Schmitt.
The AFGE—along with several other unions—disagrees, citing the decision as arbitrary. A judge granted the unions a temporary restraining order on Thursday, pushing the deadline to Monday.
Local 2192 works specifically on the benefits side of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Snead says they have an important job not to just St. Louis but the entire country.
“We also have a customer service division, that division is the only division that exists in the country that every nation’s veteran and their family relies on so it was kind of like a slap in the face to know that he doesn’t entrust in us to serve our veterans, which is who we serve,” said Snead.
The National AFGE is urging its to not take the deal, unsure that people will get the buyout benefits.
“Knowing that we don’t have a budget, we don’t know what the future might hold. All we know is we’re on a continuing resolution until March, and then after that, then what?” Snead asked.
“To right size government to be more efficient, we’re $36 trillion in debt, and we can do better, and that’s what I think this effort is all about,” said Senator Schmitt.
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