American Federation Of Government Employees

1. THE FIRST GENERAL CATEGORY IS RESPONDING TO AND FOLLOWING THROUGH ON APPROXIMATELY 1,500 INQUIRIES, COMPLAINTS, ETC. IN THE COURSE OF AN AVERAGE YEAR. PERHAPS AS MANY AS 600 OF THESE MAY LEAD TO A GRIEVANCE OR PERSONAL TYPES OF REPRESENTATION INVOLVING FACE TO FACE INTERACTION WITH THE WORKERS' SUPERVISOR OR HIGHER LEVEL MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATIVE. THE INSTANCE LEAD TO ARBITRATION HEARINGS, MERIT SYSTEM PROTECTION BOARD INSPECTOR HEARINGS, INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE FILINGS. MANY DEALINGS WITH OUR CLIENTS AND MANAGEMENT MAY BE RESOLVED VIA PHONE, E-MAIL DISCUSSIONS, AND REFERRALS. 2. THE SECOND GENERAL CATEGORY IS RELATED LARGELY TO DAILY OPERATION FOR THE TWO SEPARATE FACILITIES THAT ARE PART OF TVHS. THIS INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 600 PERSON HOURS A YEAR IN COMMITTEE WORK WITH MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND OTHER FACILITY STAFF FOCUSING ON RESOURCE UTILIZATIONS, QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS, AND REORGANIZATIONS OF SERVICES DELIVERY. AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 PERSON HOURS PER YEAR ARE SPENT IN REVIEWING AND NEGOTIATING MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS INCLUDING CREATING OUR OWN. ALL FOR IMPROVING CONDITIONS OF PATIENTS, THE FACILITY AND OUR MEMBERS. THE PROVISION OF BENEFITS (I.E. DISCOUNTS, LOW INTEREST CREDIT CARDS, INSURANCE PLANS, ETC.) FOR MEMBERS AND NATIONAL LEVEL LEGISLATIVE AGENCY LIAISON (FOR THE GENERAL BENEFIT OF FEDERAL WORKERS) ARE ALSO IMPORTANT PURPOSES AND SERVICES FOR US. THESE ARE PROVIDED FOR THE MOST PART, BY OUR NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PARENTING BODIES. AFTER PER CAPITA PAYMENTS TO THESE BODIES (AFGE NATIONAL, NATIONAL VETERANS ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL (NVAC), AFGE 5TH DISTRICT) ARE MADE THE LOCAL UTILIZES ITS REMAINING DUES INCOME FOR AND TRAINING COSTS FOR OUR OFFICERS AND STEWARDS IN PREPARING THEM FOR DEALING WITH THE WORKER CONTACTS DESCRIBED IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH ABOVE. THE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS AND SPECIAL SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY PROVIDED BY AFGE (AFL-CIO) AT ALL LEVELS HELP THE LOCAL WITH KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL CUSTOMER SUPPORT.