Neither Fish Nor Fowl, but Not Toast

Retiree VP Voice

BY JOHN O’KEEFE

AFSA has represented the Foreign Service for more than 100 years. Since the 1970s, we have been both a union and a professional association, a comfortable role appreciated by our members in multiple agencies.

Part of that comfort stems from so many Governing Board members over the years having been in senior management positions—ambassadors, assistant and deputy assistant secretaries (DAS), office directors, counselors, and heads of embassy divisions—before volunteering to serve as AFSA leaders.

From my own experience as a DAS and as acting Director General, working with AFSA at that time on promotion precepts and other policies affecting the Foreign Service provided useful ideas to effectuate our work and ensure fairness in our treatment of colleagues.

The current administration is attempting to undermine that deeply productive relationship at the State Department.

We remain both the professional organization and the union for other foreign affairs agencies and continue to work constructively with their leadership, with some exceptions. We are also challenging the change in status at State and elsewhere through multiple court cases.

Despite the hostility directed at our union by some senior leaders in the department, we continue to stand up for our members’ interests through many vectors. Our Office of General Counsel is not only litigating cases but also working through other avenues to combat unfair labor practices and executive actions in contravention of the Foreign Service Act.

Our communications team does a fabulous job of educating the public about the importance of our work. AFSA President John Dinkelman and other Governing Board members have made numerous appearances in the press, further proliferating this message. And you, our alumni, have done a great job with opeds and networking to spread the word even further.

As alumni and retirees, you help us through your messaging and interaction. When our legislative director visits members of Congress, legislative staff, and others on the Hill, the engine of information has an effect. Members of Congress learn from us: We are deeply nonpartisan. Our work and our mission are to look after U.S. interests, help Americans in trouble abroad, and assist our businesses in foreign markets.

So our success on the Hill in ensuring your benefits are not reduced depends on both sides of the aisle seeing the Foreign Service as it is—deeply invested in our country’s welfare, often at personal risk to us and our families.

Please keep up your good work in letting your communities know of the Foreign Service’s sacrifices, work, and commitment to the United States.