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NEU Comment on New Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked to
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LONDON, England, July 22 -- The National Education Union issued the following statement by General Secretary Daniel Kebede:
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NEU comment on new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell
Commenting on the appointment of Lucy Powell as secretary of state for education Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
"Lucy Powell's experience as shadow education secretary should put her in good stead and ensure that she can hit the ground running. There is much to do and no time to waste.
"Schools have been told for too long to do more with less. They are now being asked tofind almost half a billion pounds they do not have to plug the funding gap in the government's teacher pay offer. The NEU is preparing a formal ballot on this issue, and it is not too late for government to change course. It should accept that it was wrong to have ever suggested there are 'efficiencies' to be made in school budgets when the education system is on its knees.
"Bridget Phillipson was hampered from the start by a wider government policy of continuity austerity that has alienated voters and stagnated services. Now is the opportunity for a step change that parents, schools, teachers and support staff can recognise as a break with the past.
"Reset must mean more than a change of faces. It must also mean a change of direction."
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Original text here: https://neu.org.uk/latest/press-releases/neu-comment-new-education-secretary-lucy-powell?_locale=en
[Category: Union]
'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
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WASHINGTON -On July 1, the unprecedented cuts to the federal student loan system as a result of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act went into effect. In response, a broad coalition of labor unions, consumer protection, students, borrower advocates and civil rights organizations launched the " One Big Bill " campaign today
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WASHINGTON, July 21 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers issued the following news release:
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'One Big Bill' Story-Gathering Campaign Launches to Document the Financial Harm of OBBBA on Working Families with Student Loan Debt
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WASHINGTON -On July 1, the unprecedented cuts to the federal student loan system as a result of President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act went into effect. In response, a broad coalition of labor unions, consumer protection, students, borrower advocates and civil rights organizations launched the " One Big Bill " campaign todayto elevate the stories of millions of Americans with student loan debt, documenting their spiking student loan bills and other devastating financial consequences from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Borrowers are invited to share their stories and new monthly student loan bills at onebigbill.org and describe how rising costs are affecting their households. The story-gathering campaign is backed by the AFT, Protect Borrowers, the NAACP, the National Association of Social Workers, the Student Debt Crisis Center, Young Invincibles, EdTrust, the American Association of University Women, the Consumer Federation of America, the United States Student Association, and the Council on Social Work Education. In addition, the groups will be monitoring stories for examples of student-loan servicers failing to do their jobs and making it even harder for working families to repay their student loan debt.
"President Trump's Big Ugly Bill is now forcing student loan borrowers to pay hundreds more per month in repayments," said AFT President Randi Weingarten. "But Congress seems determined to ignore the financial damage its signature legislation has inflicted. That's why we're encouraging borrowers with unaffordable student debt to publicly share their own One Big Student Loan Bill at onebigbill.org. It's time for lawmakers to pay attention to the struggles of working- and middle-class borrowers squeezed by rising costs and finally act to fix America's $1.7 trillion student loan crisis."
"The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will do exactly what its name suggests: It hits American families with one big student loan bill," said Amy Czulada, senior advisor for outreach and engagement of Protect Borrowers. "When President Trump signed the OBBBA, he cut millions in resources that families rely on to pay for college and repay their student loan debt, all to cover tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. Today, the consequences of this law are hitting families in their pocketbooks when they can least afford it."
"For Black borrowers, the student debt crisis is already holding back millions of families from building generational wealth and achieving the American Dream. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill law will make this crisis even worse," said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. "This new law will force student loan bills to skyrocket and bury even more families in debt. That's why the NAACP is standing with this coalition and calling on borrowers to submit their new student loan bill at onebigbill.org. We must show policymakers in Washington the consequences of their decision to put billionaires over families."
The One Big Bill campaign will amplify the stories of student loan borrowers from communities across the country, make sure policymakers understand the financial devastation they have caused for working families, and urge policymakers to repair this harm and provide much-needed relief.
Background
The launch of this campaign comes as the student loan cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect, triggering massive cuts to long-standing student loan safety net and financial aid programs, while gutting other critical programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The launch also coincides with the Trump administration's decision to force 7 million borrowers out of the Biden-era Saving on an Affordable Repayment Plan and into significantly more expensive plans.
Rising student loan costs are hitting as Americans face an ongoing cost-of-living, affordability and debt crisis. Most Americans are already struggling to afford rent, groceries and childcare. In particular, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act changes arrive at a moment of serious chaos and hardship in the student loan system. One in 5 borrowers (nearly 9 million Americans ) are in default, and 1 in 4 borrowers with a payment due are now delinquent. During the first year of the second Trump administration, a student loan borrower defaulted every nine seconds, a rate three times higher than before the pandemic.
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Original text here: https://www.aft.org/press-release/one-big-bill-story-gathering-campaign-launches-document-financial-harm-obbba-working
Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
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SAN FRANCISCO -Today, Wiki Workers United U.S. (WWU-US)/Communications Workers of America (CWA) demanded voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia and sister projects. This request comes from a supermajority of union-eligible workers who have signed union authorization cards. WWU-US
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO Communications Workers of America posted the following news release:
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Wiki Workers United U.S. Branch Demands Voluntary Recognition from Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that hosts Wikipedia
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SAN FRANCISCO -Today, Wiki Workers United U.S. (WWU-US)/Communications Workers of America (CWA) demanded voluntary recognition from the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia and sister projects. This request comes from a supermajority of union-eligible workers who have signed union authorization cards. WWU-USis organizing with the CWA to represent eligible U.S.-based workers.
WWU-US/CWA has set a deadline of Friday, July 24th, for the Wikimedia Foundation to respond to its request for voluntary recognition.
Recent events at the Wikimedia Foundation have drastically escalated worker concerns regarding transparency, trust, the organization's future, and leadership's commitment to the free knowledge movement. The Foundation's workers call on the organization to uphold its stated values and recent public commitments supporting the right to form a union [1][2], giving workers a promised and long-deserved voice.
This announcement follows a similar request for voluntary recognition[3] made by WWU-UK, the UK branch of WWU, represented by the United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW), a national branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU). Together, the two branches reflect a growing movement among Wikimedia Foundation workers to establish collective bargaining through the legal frameworks available in their respective countries.
WWU-US/CWA also extends its sincere gratitude to the volunteer community. Over 1,000 volunteers and community members who have collectively made more than 15 million edits have publicly signed petitions supporting Wikimedia Foundation workers and affirming the importance of giving workers a meaningful voice in shaping the future of the movement[4][5]. The WWU Organizing Committee is deeply appreciative of this extraordinary demonstration of solidarity.
"We are hopeful that the Wikimedia Foundation will honor their stated values and quickly come to the table so that we can verify that an overwhelming majority support the union. We are proud to support this group of dedicated and talented workers. We are also deeply grateful for the strong solidarity of the volunteer community, the backbone of Wikipedia and its sister projects, that has pledged to stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave workers." - Tim Dubnau, Organizing Director, Communications Workers of America
"We congratulate our colleagues in the United States on reaching this important milestone. While labour law differs between our countries, our shared goal is the same: ensuring Wikimedia Foundation workers have a meaningful voice in shaping their workplace." - John Chadfield, National Officer, Communication Workers Union
Wiki Workers United is a global solidarity union of Wikimedia Foundation workers committed to strengthening worker voice, transparency, equity, and shared stewardship. The WWU-US/CWA branch represents eligible U.S.-based workers seeking collective bargaining rights under the National Labor Relations Act.
For more information: https://wikiworkersunited.org
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User_talk:BMeehan-WMF#Update_from_Bernadette_May_24
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wikipedia:Village_pump_(WMF)&diff=prev&oldid=1355455480
[3] https://utaw.tech/news/wikipedia-recognition
[4] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wiki_Workers_United#Individuals
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wiki_Workers_United_solidarity#Signatures
About CWA : The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.
cwa-union.org @cwaunion
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Original text here: https://cwa-union.org/news/releases/wiki-workers-united-us-branch-demands-voluntary-recognition-wikimedia-foundation
St. Louis nurses rally to demand Saint Louis University Hospital immediately reinstate unjustly terminated nurses
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, July 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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St. Louis nurses rally to demand Saint Louis University Hospital immediately reinstate unjustly terminated nurses
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Registered nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) in St. Louis, Mo., will hold a rally on Wednesday, July 22, to protest SSM Health's termination of two highly skilled and dedicated nurses, Jessica Tulk and Earline Shepard, for participating in protected, concerted union activities. The nurses are represented by National Nurses Organizing Committee/National
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, July 20 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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St. Louis nurses rally to demand Saint Louis University Hospital immediately reinstate unjustly terminated nurses
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Registered nurses at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (SLUH) in St. Louis, Mo., will hold a rally on Wednesday, July 22, to protest SSM Health's termination of two highly skilled and dedicated nurses, Jessica Tulk and Earline Shepard, for participating in protected, concerted union activities. The nurses are represented by National Nurses Organizing Committee/NationalNurses United (NNOC/NNU).
Nurses across the country and in the St. Louis region depend on their union to be able to best advocate for their patients. Nurses believe that SSM is not doing enough for patients and are exercising their rights to join in union activities to fight for the highest standards that all patients deserve. Two SLUH nurses were fired for talking to nurses at other SSM Health facilities about how joining together can improve patient care and working conditions. RNs are demanding that the two nurses are returned to work and SSM Health respects workers' union rights.
Who: Nurses from Saint Louis University Hospital
What: Rally to reinstate unjustly terminated nurses
When: Wednesday, July 22nd, 8:00 a.m.
Where: Saint Louis University Hospital, 1201 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, Mo.
"Jessica and Earline are longtime, dedicated nurses and union members. As union nurses at SLUH, they were on the bargaining team and committees advocating for patients and demanding SSM Health follow their mission and values," said Kellie Allen, RN and SLUH chief nurse representative. "Union nurses have exercised our protected union rights and have gone to other area hospitals to talk with nurses interested in joining a union. I've done it several times and SSM has never issued any discipline, but now they claim it's a violation of solicitation policy? It is clearly a cover for union busting! We can't let SSM get away with this. We need all union workers to call out SSM for these unjust terminations."
NNOC represents more than 700 nurses at Saint Louis University Hospital.
NNOC/NNU is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, representing nearly 225,000 RNs at more than 200 facilities nationwide.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/st-louis-nurses-rally-to-demand-saint-louis-university-hospital-immediately-reinstate-nurses
NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The National Treasury Employees Union issued the following news release:
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NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
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An arbitrator has ordered the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to restore telework for NTEU-represented employees, finding that the agency violated NTEU's negotiated collective bargaining agreement and a memorandum of understanding when it suspended most telework and remote work last year to comply with the President's memo ordering agencies to bring employees back to the office full-time.
While the contract
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The National Treasury Employees Union issued the following news release:
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NTEU Wins Sweeping Victory in IRS Telework/Remote Work Arbitration
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An arbitrator has ordered the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to restore telework for NTEU-represented employees, finding that the agency violated NTEU's negotiated collective bargaining agreement and a memorandum of understanding when it suspended most telework and remote work last year to comply with the President's memo ordering agencies to bring employees back to the office full-time.
While the contractprovision on telework and remote work sometimes allows the IRS to temporarily pause arrangements in limited cases, a neutral third-party arbitrator ruled that the agency violated NTEU's contract by eliminating all telework and remote work agreements. Moreover, the arbitrator ruled that the agency failed to show that such agreements have impaired IRS operations.
The arbitrator ordered the IRS to restore telework and remote work to levels from before March 8, 2025, when the agency terminated most employee agreements, and stop further violations of the negotiated article.
While the IRS has 30 days in which to appeal this decision to the Federal Labor Relations Authority, NTEU is urging the IRS to do the right thing and comply.
"IRS employees have been successfully teleworking for years, and reports show that telework is good for agencies, employees and the public they serve," said National President Doreen Greenwald. "Not only does telework save taxpayers money through reduced leasing costs, reduced energy expenses and increased productivity, it also boosts employee recruitment and retention, reduces traffic congestion and helps ease rising commuting costs. NTEU is ready and determined to continue fighting to enforce our win on behalf of the employees we represent."
This favorable decision follows a series of arbitration wins NTEU has secured against agencies stripping employees of their telework and remote work rights under NTEU-negotiated contracts. NTEU recently won similar arbitration decisions at Customs and Border Protection, National Park Service, Health and Human Services, Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a nd Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
NTEU represents 38 federal offices and agencies.
Contact: NTEU-PR@nteu.org, 202-572-5500
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Original text here: https://www.nteu.org/media-center/News Releases/2026/07/20/IRSTelework
Maryland Teamsters Launch Strike at Verbal Beginnings
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Maryland Teamsters Launch Strike at Verbal Beginnings
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(ROCKVILLE, Md.) - Workers at Verbal Beginnings in Rockville, represented by Teamsters Local 639, have been forced onto the picket line by their employer's refusal to bargain a fair first collective bargaining agreement. The 33 workers serve as registered behavioral technicians and provide early intervention and other services
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Maryland Teamsters Launch Strike at Verbal Beginnings
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Press Contact: Lena Melentijevic Phone: (347) 208-2279 Email: LMelentijevic@teamster.org
(ROCKVILLE, Md.) - Workers at Verbal Beginnings in Rockville, represented by Teamsters Local 639, have been forced onto the picket line by their employer's refusal to bargain a fair first collective bargaining agreement. The 33 workers serve as registered behavioral technicians and provide early intervention and other servicesto children on the autism spectrum.
"Teamsters at Verbal Beginnings provide essential, highly skilled services that families in this community depend on every day," said William Davis, President of Local 639. "These workers show up for vulnerable children in one of the country's most expensive counties, and they deserve a contract that recognizes their dedication, skill, and sacrifice."
The workers voted overwhelmingly last year to join the Teamsters and have been fighting for a fair first contract ever since. Key issues in negotiations include wages and the company's attempt to eliminate their 40-hour work week.
"First and foremost, we are fighting for the wellbeing of the kids we work with," said Collin Johnson, a registered behavioral technician and member of Local 639. "Every one of us cares deeply about the work we do, and we just want to be fairly compensated and respected in order to be able to serve our community to the best of our abilities."
Teamsters Local 639 has represented workers in a wide variety of industries throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 1934. For more information, go to teamsters639.com.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/07/maryland-teamsters-launch-strike-at-verbal-beginnings/
Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
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Reps. Bell, Cleaver have 100% voting record on AFGE's top legislative issues
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -The American Federation of Government Employees proudly announces its endorsements of Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri for reelection to Congress. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Bell represents Missouri's
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WASHINGTON, July 20 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO American Federation of Government Employees issued the following news release:
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Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Missouri Reps. Bell, Cleaver for Reelection to Congress
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Reps. Bell, Cleaver have 100% voting record on AFGE's top legislative issues
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -The American Federation of Government Employees proudly announces its endorsements of Reps. Wesley Bell and Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri for reelection to Congress. The statewide primary is Aug. 4, and the general election is Nov. 3.
Rep. Bell represents Missouri's1 st Congressional District, while Rep. Cleaver represents Missouri's 5 th Congressional District.
Both leaders have demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to federal employees and working families. In 2025, each maintained a 100% voting record in support of AFGE-backed issues, standing firmly with federal workers during one of the most significant periods of attacks on their rights, including efforts to weaken collective bargaining protections.
"Representatives Bell and Cleaver didn't just talk about supporting federal employees; they showed up when it mattered most," said AFGE District 9 National Vice President Shane Reedy. "They had a 100% voting record for AFGE members in 2025 and proved they had our backs during some of the toughest fights we've faced. Now it's our turn to have theirs."
During the DHS shutdown, Rep. Bell went above and beyond for the members of AFGE Local 912 at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. While Transportation Security Administration officers worked without pay and faced tremendous uncertainty, Bell stood with our members, listened to their concerns, and fought to ensure their voices were heard. His commitment to working people and willingness to support federal employees during one of the most difficult periods in their careers did not go unnoticed.
Rep. Cleaver has been an equally reliable ally when it counted. He stood with AFGE members at a press conference to push back against DOGE's assault on the federal workforce and spoke out during the shutdown against threats to withhold back pay, joining a bipartisan call urging the administration to follow the law and make workers whole. He also opened his office to constituents, providing resources to federal employees navigating the uncertainty of the shutdown. Time and again, Cleaver has shown he understands what is at stake for the families who keep our government running.
Throughout the past year, AFGE members across Missouri have worked to push back against policies that threaten the federal workforce, including efforts to undermine workplace protections, cut benefits, and erode collective bargaining rights. Representatives Bell and Cleaver stood alongside AFGE members in these fights, advocating for fair treatment, respect, and dignity for public servants.
Nearly 53,000 federal employees live in Missouri -caring for veterans, supporting the military, and making sure Social Security recipients get their benefits accurately and on time.
AFGE is the largest federal employee union in the country, representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers in all functions of government. AFGE represents more than 56,000 federal employees in District 9, which includes Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
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Original text here: https://www.afge.org/link/8e649598b17e42459ffe052dac36f153.aspx
