By AFGE – 08/18/25
Last week, thousands of AFGE members and allies mobilized around several key issues including illegal terminations of our union contracts, staffing crisis, and the threat of privatization of government services.
Events were hosted in cities across the country, with premiere events in Long Beach California and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in participation with the AFL-CIO “It’s Better in a Union” bus tour.
Veterans Affairs Day Of Action
In response to the Trump administration’s attack on collective bargaining agreements covering 400,000 Department of Veterans Affairs Employees, AFGE partnered with our allies at Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Association of Government Employees (NAGE-SEIU), and others, hosted several rallies to demand our union contracts back.
Speakers included AFGE National President Everett Kelley, Representatives Robert Garcia (CA-44), Derek Tran (CA-45), and Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Long Beach Vice Mayor for District 7 Roberto Uranga, AFGE National Vice President for Women and Fair Practices Dr. Kendrick Roberson, AFGE District 12 National Vice President Mario Campos, AFGE Local 1061 President Dewanda “Dee” Mitchell, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Vice President Xochitl Cobarruvias, and Vote Vets member Andy Kopp.
“This was a blatant act of retaliation from Donald Trump because AFGE and our allies are beating him in the court of law, and the court of public opinion. He’s mad that we keep exposing his plan to dismantle the government and sell it off for parts,” Kelley said in his remarks. “That’s why he bribed workers to quit their jobs. That’s why he fired thousands of probationary employees. And that’s why he is planning to fire thousands more through an illegal reduction in force! It’s so obvious! We see right through him.”
“Secretary Collins said that ripping up our union contract “puts veterans first.” How does it put veterans first, when nearly one third of VA employees, are veterans?” Kelley asked the crowd.
SSA Workers United Celebrate SSA’s 90th Anniversary
On August 14, AFGE members at the Social Security Administration (SSA) across the country held a national day of action in accordance with the agency’s 90th anniversary.
Social Security Workers United partnered with the Alliance for Retired Americans to put on more than 40 events were held across the country to draw attention to the dangerous staffing crisis, the severe lack of funding, and the harmful impacts of artificial intelligence.
“As Americans, we were issued a promise. And that promise was that if we work hard, pay our taxes, and pay into Social Security, we’ll be able to retire with dignity and rely on those payments to take care of ourselves,” stated Kelley at an event outside of an SSA building in Wilkes-Barre, Penn. “And brothers and sisters, I’m here to tell you that that promise is under attack, and I’m not okay with it. You should not be okay with it. The American people should not be okay with it.”
Kelley also urged supporters to call on their members of congress to tell them to sign Discharge Petition #6, which would bring the Protect America’s Workforce Act (H.R.) 2550 to the House floor. This critical legislation would overturn President Trump’s executive order that stripped collective bargaining rights from a million federal employees.