AFGE Gets Right To Rep Coast Guard Civilians

By ARI PAUL

Nearly two dozen unions representing civilian U.S. Coast Guard employees were merged into a single bargaining unit under the auspices of the American Federation of Government Employees, the Federal Labor Relations Authority announced March 31.

JOHN GAGE: 'A strengthened voice for staff.'

The unit represents roughly 2,500 employees in ten states as well as in Puerto Rico and at the USCG's headquarters in Washington, D.C. AFGE already represents workers at other Department of Homeland Security agencies including the Transportation Security Administration.

'Curtail Contracting-Out'

"USCG currently runs more contracting-out competitions than all the rest of DHS put together," AFGE President John Gage said in a statement. "With this consolidation, Coast Guard civilian employees will get a strengthened voice at an agency that has leaned too far toward contracting out important work done by civilians, including oversight of contractors."

He added, "Preliminary discussions between USCG and AFGE regarding a single master labor agreement already have begun, and AFGE looks forward to continued amicable relations with the agency while increasing the respect accorded to civilian employees."

Mr. Gage vowed to organize other USCG staff including engineers, architects and accountants as well as more than 2,000 non-professional employees. The union filed April 1 to have employees at the National Maritime Center at Martinsburg, West Virginia added to the unit.