management policies in labor-management relations.” Employees who may have a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest include those who are “engaged in personnel work in other than a purely clerical capacity” (for example, employees assigned to non-clerical positions within the Global Talent Management Bureau) and “employees engaged in criminal or national security investigations of other employees or who audit the work of individuals to ensure that their functions are discharged honestly and with integrity” (such as employees assigned to DS investigative units or those assigned to the OIG). See Section 1012(1) and (2), 22 USC 4112(1) and (2) of the Foreign Service Act. As discussed above, the Foreign Service Act precludes these categories of individuals from participating in labor-management issues while serving on the Governing Board. The Foreign Service Act also imposes a two-year pre- and post- “cooling-off period,” which restricts the movement of Foreign Service employees between certain positions on the AFSA Governing Board and certain Washington-based positions. Pre-AFSA restrictions: Any individual who has served: (1) in a management position in Washington in which they have engaged in labor-management relations or the formulation of personnel policies and programs; or (2) as a confidential employee to one of these management officials within two years prior to taking office in AFSA, is precluded from participating in labor-management issues while serving on the Governing Board. Post-AFSA restrictions: Employees who have participated in collective bargaining while serving on the AFSA Governing Board may not serve: (1) in a management position in Washington that involves labor-management relations or the formulation of personnel policies and programs; or (2) as a confidential employee to such management positions, for two years after leaving AFSA. Members should consider these restrictions before deciding whether to run for AFSA Governing Board positions covered by these restrictions. Please direct questions regarding this issue to Raeka Safai, Deputy General Counsel, by email: safai@afsa.org. All other election-related queries should be addressed to the Committee on Elections by email at election@afsa.org. In addition to the above, due to AFSA efforts to educate Congress on issues related to Foreign Service conditions of employment, legislative proposals, and other issues directly impacting the Foreign Service, employees serving in congressional fellowships may not serve on the AFSA Governing Board. A conflict or potential conflict of interest exists between their position in AFSA and their official duties. AFSA members serving as congressional fellows may run for the AFSA Governing Board provided their fellowship ends before the incoming board takes office on July 15, 2025. Accepting a Nomination 1. A nominee can indicate their acceptance of a nomination by written response to the Committee on Elections (using the same addresses indicated above under “Nominating Candidates”). Following receipt of nominations, an authorized representative of the Committee on Elections will promptly communicate with each nominee (excluding members who nominate themselves) to confirm their willingness to be a candidate. Nominees must confirm their acceptance in writing (using the same addresses indicated above under “Nominating Candidates”) to the Committee on Elections no later than 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 21, 2025. Any nominee whose written acceptance of nomination is not received by the Committee on Elections by this time will be considered to have declined candidacy. Note that self-nominations will be interpreted as an acceptance of candidacy unless the individual specifically declines the nomination. 2. All candidates accepting a nomination must identify the position or positions they have filled for the past two years prior to accepting the nomination. All candidates not seeking a full-time AFSA position (president, State VP, USAID VP, FCS VP, FAS VP) must also identify the agency position they will be serving in beginning on July 15, 2025, when the Board takes office. This information is necessary to ensure compliance with section 1017(e) of the Foreign Service Act. Campaigning 1. Campaign Statements. All candidates will be given the opportunity to submit campaign statements for dissemination to AFSA members with the election ballots. Further information regarding such statements and editorial deadlines will be contained in the “Instructions to Candidates,” which will be posted by the Committee on Elections at www. afsa.org/elections no later than Jan. 15, 2025. 2. Supplementary Statements. Should candidates wish to mail supplementary statements to the membership, AFSA will make its membership mailing list or address labels available to the candidate upon request and at their expense. Further information on this and other campaign procedures will be included in the “Instructions to Candidates” mentioned above. 3. Other Methods of Communication. Department of Labor requirements prohibit individuals from using government or employer resources (including email accounts) to campaign for AFSA positions. AFSA NEWS 56 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL
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