AFGE Pushes for Federal Workforce Provisions in 2021 NDAA
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for the federal workforce, is pushing for the inclusion of several federal workforce provisions within the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Their primary focuses include securing proper pay and keeping federal jobs.
The letter sent on behalf of the AGFE details several issues that need to be resolved in the FY 2021 NDAA as the House and Senate meet to finalize the legislation following the August recess. AFGE requested inclusion of the following legislative items which passed the House as part of standalone measures but have not moved in the Senate:
Section 1102 of the House passed bill, “Limitation on authority to exclude employees from chapter 71 of Title 5,” to preserve the continuation of collective bargaining and union representation for civilian employees.
Section 1106 of the House passed bill, “Limiting the number of local wage areas defined within a pay locality.”
Section 1101 of the House passed bill, “Paid parental leave technical corrections” to expand federal employee paid leave benefits.
Section 911 of the House passed bill, “Limitation on reduction of civilian workforce,” and Section 806, “Defense reform.”
The United States Senate, on July 23, passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, 86 to14. The House of Representatives passed the bill in a 295 to 125 vote on July 21, 2020. As the House and Senate reconcile their pieces of legislation, AFGE called for the conference to include several provisions from each of the House and Senate bills:
Sections 1121 through 1128 of the House passed bill.
Section 1808, “COVID-19 Emergency Medical Supplies Enhancement,” of the House passed bill.
Section 1111 of the House passed bill that includes pandemics as an exigency of public business for purposes of carrying over of annual leave.
Sections 714, 715, 716 and 722 of the House passed bill extending the Defense Health reorganization until 2025, extending the bar on reduction or realignment of military medical structure, requiring TRICARE quality standards be reported to Congress; and the development of a Departmental medical COVID-19 strategy.
Section 633 of the House passed bill, “Updated business case analysis on consolidation of Defense Resale System.”
Section 2702 of the Senate passed bill, “Prohibition on conducting additional BRAC.”
The AFGE is opposing Section 820C of the House passed bill in the FY 2021 NDAA, which states commercial product determination applies to components and support services. AFGE noted that the provision would be an “invitation to further fraud, waste, and abuse by defense contractors.”
The House and Senate are expected to go to conference in September to make final decisions regarding the NDAA. They will go into committee and try to reach a compromise before they release the final version of the bill for a vote in each chamber. President Trump has also issued a veto threat concerning several provisions AFGE supports- including Section 1102 on limitation on authority to exclude employees from Chapter 71 of Title 5. Both versions of the bill are passed by a veto proof majority in their respective chambers.
