Thursday, September 26, 2002 was a momentous day in the history of AFGE Local 2578. On that day Local President Vernon Early and Council 260 President Peter Jeffrey welcomed nine bargaining unit employees from the Policy and Communication Staff (NPOL) to the first of a series of Lunch & Learn sessions. The purpose of the Lunch & Learns is to educate bargaining unit employees about the work of AFGE and the benefits of membership. The sessions are part of a larger campaign to increase membership in AFGE Local 2578.

Peter Jeffrey led the discussion and focused on four areas: 1) enforcing management’s duty to bargain over workplace conditions; 2) representation of employees; 3) AFGE’s legislative action; and 4) organizing, including union buying power benefits for group discounts. Jeffrey stressed that membership in AFGE supports all of these activities and affords access to the AFGE auto buying service, cheaper mortgage rates, low interest credit cards, the AFGE dental plan, and a free legal consultative service.

Initially, bargaining unit employees from each of the Washington DC area NARA facilities will be invited to a Lunch & Learn session. The Local is providing pizza and sodas with money received from the National Office for organizing activities. The Local organizing committee is arranging the sessions. The committee is comprised of Principal Representative Greg LaMotta, AFGE Council Treasurer Sharman Powell and members DeNeine Bradley, Joe Byrnes, and Nancy Fortna. Upcoming Sessions are currently scheduled for:

• October 8: NWM, NWML
• October 22: NWMD
• October 24: NWME
• November 7: NWMW, NWMWA, NWMWR

On October 2, 2002, Council 260 President Peter Jeffrey spoke to an audience of 50 about the new Uniform Performance Appraisal Rating Period and bargaining unit employee rights. Peter Jeffrey explained why the rating period is being introduced and how managers must conduct performance evaluations under the terms of the new National Agreement. The new performance management system is described in Article 15 of the Agreement.

A reprise of the presentation on the new Uniform Performance Appraisal Rating Period, is scheduled for Wed. October 9 in room 503, National Archives Building, 12 p.m.

On October 16, Peter Jeffrey is scheduled to discuss the Hatch Act in Lecture Room C, Archives II, at 12:p.m. All bargaining unit employees are invited to attend and learn what they CAN do during the upcoming election season.

A reprise of the Hatch Act presentation is scheduled for Wed. October 23 in room 105, National Archives Building, 12 p.m.

In response to concerns raised by Local members at Archives I, AFGE Local 2578 hosted a tour of that facility by the AFGE industrial hygienist. On August 28, 2002, Local President Vernon Early and Health and Safety representative Ed Stokes took AFGE Industrial Hygienist Milly Rodriguez on a tour of the construction areas in Archives I. In early September, Ms. Rodriguez filed her report with AFGE Local 2578 and it was distributed to members by email. She concluded that there were no major areas of physical concern, but there were some specific areas that needed to be addressed. In summary, her report addressed five areas of concern:

1. Communication: Ms. Rodriguez indicated that management feels they are giving out adequate information about the project. However, supervisors may not be passing along information or allowing their employees to raise questions. Employees may not know that project managers are doing whatever they can to protect them. Ms Rodriguez concluded that not knowing whether employees are being exposed or how an exposure can affect them causes anxiety. Management offered to conduct briefings through the Union on the current state of the project. The current briefings have been to supervisors, and apparently not all employees are reading the e-mailed updates.
   
   2) Noise: Ms. Rodriguez asked about the noise problem, and was told they can only try to minimize it. For the nuisance levels of noise associated with the construction, there are no OSHA requirements. The project managers and the industrial hygienists say they have tried to keep the noise level down by dampening the noise and offering ear plugs.
   
   3) Debris and Ventilation: Ms. Rodriguez reported that there was a lot of debris, which can contribute to dust getting dispersed everywhere. The way the current ventilation system works all areas are pretty much connected. They are putting up barriers where they can to keep the spreading to a minimum. It may be close to impossible to get each crew to clean up after themselves so the dust and debris doesn't continue to build up.
   
   

4) Lead and Asbestos Abatement: Ms. Rodriguez reported that the asbestos and lead abatement seem to be according to standards and that there are cross-checks on all samples. The work is tested, and a third party for the government confirms the results before the work is considered done. This assures that clearance levels are met before the areas are used.

5) Water: Ms. Rodriguez reported that the water had been tested before and all the readings were below the level of concern. The pipes will be replaced throughout the building, and when they are shut down for the work, there will be no water supply. Water fountains in those areas will be shut off. Ms. Rodriguez recommended that the Union make a request for bottled water, at least while the water supply is shut off, if not permanently.

As reported in Your Union News last month, employees at the Dayton Federal Records Center sponsored a Yard Sale on Sat. September 21, to benefit the family of a long-time NARA employee and Union member, Agnes Chaney. Representative Pam Bullock reports that "I truly believe the employees of the Dayton center are some of the most kind and caring people around. They have rallied around the Chaney family like two strong arms. The amount of stuff donated was incredible. The sale lasted just one day … with employees donating their time we were able to raise over $1400.00."

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

• Michael Cramer, Michelle A. DeMartino, Claire M. Ellis, Ashley Enoch, Selena Halfacre, Arthur Hanson, Alexander Lutz, Patrick McCann, Karen McCray, Anne Meininger, Patrice Murray, Robert Reed, and Gary Stern.