The Foreign Service Journal, November 2005

NOVEMBER 2005 • AFSA NEWS 7 other areasof concern to them. These com- ments, which AFSA staff have been scru- tinizing andarenowcataloging, suggest the wide rangeof disparateproblemsmembers would like AFSA to address, as well as the diversity of opinion on howAFSA should approach these problems. The comments cover a multitude of subjects, resulting in at least 100 distinct suggestions for action items. Recurring themes include: frustra- tions over theEER/promotionprocess, the inability to use home leave, unequal treat- ment of Members of Household, secret “handshakes” for choice assignments, problems with household effects/storage, inadequate arrangements for pregnancy/ maternity, disparitybetweengeneralists and specialists, poormanagerial skills of senior officers, excessive security investigations/ punitive actions and awidespreadpercep- tion that the department is offering unfair and inappropriate rewards to people who volunteer to serve in Iraq andAfghanistan. (See my column on this latter subject on page 3.) This surveyhighlights the challenges fac- ing AFSA when we try to represent this multifaceted—and often feisty—mem- bership. We cannot tackle every issue of importance to every member. When we do take on an issue in our negotiations with department management, we typi- cally find that members disagree onwhat AFSA should do about that particular issue or how much effort AFSA should expend on it. We at AFSA will take to heart the responses we received in this survey as we define our agenda and our priorities. Our members overwhelmingly (68 percent) want ASFA to serve as both a labor union and a professional association, and a clear majority (61 percent) think AFSA should be more vocal and assertive in dealing with management. We will continue to listen to members’ concerns, to tackle every problemwe can and to strive con- scientiously to represent our diverse constituency to the best of our ability. The response to one questionwas par- ticularly heartening: when asked if they were “satisfied with AFSA’s efforts” on their behalf, some 83 percent of survey respondents answered yes! o 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% NO YES Unqualified political appointees at all levels represent a problem that AFSA should challenge. Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree (21 / 49 / 27 / 4) 21% 49% 26% 4% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% NO YES Do you read the Foreign Service Journal regularly? Yes No (75/25 75% 25% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% NO YES In order to prevent unfairness to FS members, AFSA should exercise greater scrutiny of the department’s implementation of new career development require- ments that place more emphasis on service at hardship posts. Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree ((17 / 44 / 32 / 7) 17% 44% 32% 7% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% NO YES Are you satisfied with AFSA’s efforts on behalf of its members? Satisfied Dissatisfied (Yes 83% / No 17%) 83% 17% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% At the present time, do you believe that the overall conditions of work for the professional Foreign Service are improving, worsening or remaining the same? Improving Worsening Remaining the Same (improving 32% / worsening 27% / remaining the same 40%) 32% 40% SAME WORSE IMPROVE 28% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% By what means do you get information on AFSA activities/efforts? 40% Post AFSA Rep. AFSA Web site Word of mouth AFSANET e-mails ALDAC cables FS Journal/ AFSANews 73% 60% 55% 24% 14% 13%