Federal employee unions upset at their candidate’s loss

Federal employee unions, all of which endorsed Sen. John Kerry for president, expressed disappointment and, in some cases, fear over what the next four years would bring.

"I'm still numb by the whole thing. If the past four years is any indication of what we have to look forward to, it's going to be a long four years," said Frank Carelli, director of government employees for the AFL-CIO's International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as he unpacked from a month of campaigning for Kerry.

The American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union, two of the largest unions representing federal employees, released statements expressing their commitment to fight for members despite the loss of their presidential candidate.

Union leaders spent the day absorbing the shock of the loss and planning how best to advance their policies, which largely conflict with the President's Management Agenda. Competitive sourcing, where federal employees bid for their jobs against private sector companies, has been one of the most contentious initiatives emphasized by the Bush administration.

Matthew Biggs, legislative director for the AFL-CIO's International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers, said his organization planned to focus on allies in the Senate, which he said was more amenable to unions' concerns.

"The House pretty much rubber-stamps the president's agenda, but the Senate is willing to work with us," he said, naming Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, as a key ally.

Still, Biggs said, he expects challenges ahead. "Our efforts for the last four years have been playing defense when it comes to the policies of the Bush administration, and we expect the same thing for the next four years," he said. IFPTE represents 80,000 workers, half of which are federal employees.

"There is now another four years to promote [Bush's management agenda] … without a system of checks and balances. It's really scary for us," said Mary Lynch, vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees' National Homeland Security Council for Citizenship and Immigration Services, referring to the Republican majorities in both Houses of Congress.

Others were more hopeful. NTEU president Colleen Kelley said she has had success working with both parties in the House, something she pledged to continue. "The bipartisan votes have not been by one or two votes, they've been pretty overwhelming.… Regardless of party, if we can present facts in a way that shows it doesn't make sense for the government to be doing something, they have stood with us," she said. She added that she plans to work not only with Congress, but with Cabinet members and political appointees.

Kelley said she expects Bush to accelerate his initiatives, which include putting federal jobs up for competition and revamping the General Schedule pay system, which governs federal employees' salaries.

In a statement released shortly after Kerry's concession speech, AFGE president John Gage said, "It is our hope that President Bush will not view his reelection as a mandate, but rather as a renewed opportunity to bring all Americans together."

He also offered Bush a challenge to "strive for a greater vision of himself and America" and suggested that Bush's "second term does not have to mirror his first."

Meanwhile, groups representing private sector companies that have benefited from Bush's management agenda celebrated. "From our members' point of view, and the contracting issues they work on, [Bush's] reelection is good. It means the President's Management Agenda will be going forward," said Cathy Garman, senior vice president of public policy at the Contract Services Association, which represents government contractors. She said she expected more agencies to engage in competitive sourcing and a continued White House emphasis on supporting small businesses.