As the Exclusive Representative for these employees, our primary function is to represent employee and union interests in matters concerning:
What We Do:
Federal Unions are inherently different from private and most other public sector labor organizations.
Federal Unions CANNOT bargain pay or benefits.
Federal Unions cannot strike or promote or engage in job actions which in any way impede, inhibit, obstruct or otherwise adversely interfere with the administration of governmental operations.
Dues Paying Union membership is optional. The Local is not required to provide representation on all cases. Union will evaluate and investigate the facts of each case and matter as it is presented. The Local is entitled to make decisions pertaining to representation and action after a fair and rational conclusion analysis of the merits of each case.
The Local is required to be fair. The Duty of Fair Representation is defined by (Case Law Citation)
The Local determines the best course of action and the appointment of representatives. No employee has the right to insist on representation from a particular union representative. The union decides who is assigned to the case.
The following are some areas the Union is NOT required to assist but may discretionarily do so for dues paying members:
What Else We Do:
In addition to the three critical representational roles, Local 918 also engages in other activities promoting the beneficial interests of our unit employees. Local 918 has reported to and engaged with Legislators from both Houses of Congress. We maintain contact with the GAO. We regularly communicate with national, regional and district management personnel. We share necessary concerns with the DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) when agency management practices appear to involve suspected fraud waste or abuse.
We have a duty of fair representation to all of our bargaining unit members. Each employee has due process rights and Local 918 is on the frontline to ensure our bargaining unit members are afforded every one of those rights provided for by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Agency Policy, applicable Federal Law and the U.S. Constitution.
Local 918 also provides additional benefits which are reserved for those who become dues paying members of the Local. Your voluntary election to become a dues paying member of Local 918 provides you with: