AFGE Local 2578 is sponsoring Holiday Celebrations for Union members at four NARA facilities: Archives II, Dayton FRC, Northeast Philadelphia FRC, and the Kennedy Library in Boston. As of December 9, 2002, the scheduled dates and time for celebrations are:

• The Archives II Holiday Celebration is scheduled for Friday December 20, 2002, 12:30-2:30 p.m. in Lecture Rooms D&E, Archives II. The committee chair for this year's celebration is Cathy Lomax (NWCS). Volunteers are needed to assist with setup and cleanup. Those interested in helping should contact Cathy by email or at 301-837-1918.

• The Philadelphia Holiday Celebration is scheduled for Friday December 20, 2002, at noon.

During November, the local’s Organizing Committee sponsored three Lunch and Learn sessions; one at WNRC and two at Archives II. The Lunch & Learn sessions will continue through March 2003.

One of the goals of the Lunch and Learn sessions is to increase membership in AFGE Local 2578. Only through increased membership can we support the work of the national office and continue the work of the Union. Ten new members joined as a result of the Lunch & Learns in November.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES MUST HAVE A SAY IN CREATING THIS NEW DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

(Washington, D.C.)—"Undermining the collective bargaining rights and civil service protections of federal employees on the front lines of the war on terrorism does not improve the security of our homeland," stated Bobby L. Harnage, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), following Senate passage of its Homeland Security bill. "It is a sad day in American history when the Congress abolishes its interest in a civil service system and turns its back on hard working, dedicated, patriotic, middle-class people by not protecting their basic freedom of collective bargaining."

"On the contrary, without a voice on the job and empowerment to speak out when systems and procedures are failing, it will only worsen our nation’s ability to protect our homeland and the American people. It will open the agency to abuse, both of the employees and political abuse.

"Rank-and-file federal employees, on the job every day, know best how to get the job done—they know what works and what doesn’t. Without their input as this critical agency is established, this Administration will be turning a blind eye towards those with valuable insight into winning the war on terrorism.

"Federal employees and their representatives should have a seat at the table as this department is established. Indeed, when the rhetoric dies down, it is the rank-and-file federal employees who have and will continue to risk their lives on the frontlines to win the war on terrorism."

"AFGE has never been opposed to the creation of a Homeland Security Department and worked closely with Senator Lieberman when his bill was introduced earlier this year. AFGE urges the Administration to work together with federal employees and their representatives to create the very best security for our country."

The Archives' Occupational Safety & Health Committees regularly meet on the 3rd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. This month's meeting of the Archives II Committee is Tuesday December 17th, and the Archives I Committee meeting which normally would occur on Tuesday December 24^th, is cancelled for this month.

Ms. Katherine Coram and Mr. Ed Stokes now serve as AFGE Local 2578 representatives on the Archives I committee. Ms. Coram replaces Ms. Judy Thorne, who retired from federal service during November Local members who have comments or concerns about health and safety issues at Archives I should contact either representative by email or by telephone. Ms. Coram's telephone number is 202-501-5330x273; Mr. Stokes telephone number is 202-219-3351.

Mr. Ira Kirshenbaum serves as AFGE Local 2578's representative on the Archives II Committee. Local members who have comments or concerns about health and safety issues at Archives II should contact Mr. Kirshenbaum by email or at 301-837-1881.

We welcome the following Brothers and Sisters to the membership of AFGE Local 2578:

• Ronnie Haigler, Michael W. Hunt, Ivan L. Johnson, Todd W. Kisksey-Waugh, Tonya Pettaway-Stewart, Brenda E. Smith, Marqueta L. Troy, Jeffrey Weiss, and Patsy R. Whitehead.

BUSH LIMITS PAY RAISE TO 3.1% IN 2003

President Bush has decided that federal employees covered by the General Schedule (GS) pay system should receive a scheduled 3.1% pay increase next year. But the president, citing a national emergency that "has existed since September 11, 2001," said he would allow no additional pay for employees based on labor costs in the localities where they work.

How much do you stand to lose? Enter your grade, step and location in the Pay Raise Calculator on the AFGE website and find out!! www.afge.org