The Foreign Service Journal, December 2020

50 DECEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL AFSA Special Achievement Award James Yorke Working for Members, an Unsung Hero A FSA Senior Labor Management Adviser James Yorke is an unsung, behind-the-scenes hero who has directly assisted thousands of AFSAmembers during his 25 years with the association. There may be no one at the State Department who knows more than Mr. Yorke does about the rules, regula- tions and laws regarding travel, transporta- tion, allowances and assignments. In many cases, he has assisted in negotiating those Foreign Affairs Manual provisions. Armed with this deep knowledge, he has convinced the department hundreds of times to extend benefits to employees who State initially said did not qualify. He has helped convince state governments to offer in-state tuition rates to the children of Foreign Service members who are domiciled but not physically present in those states, saving Foreign Service members thousands of dollars. Mr. Yorke’s excellent, long-term rela- tionship with Charleston Global Financial Services has made it possible for AFSA to assist many employees suffering from payroll errors and unjustified debt collection efforts. Mem- bers panicked by a collection notice for an indebtedness they were never notified they had incurred have, after Mr. Yorke has intervened, received the welcome news that the collection notice was being canceled. In one case, Mr. Yorke helped a member recoup more than $20,000 in per diem expenses that Charleston had disallowed. Mr. Yorke’s responsiveness to member inquiries is legend- ary. He typically provides comprehensive and authoritative responses to members within 24 hours. AFSA’s attorneys and grievance counselors, Governing Board members and the retiree counselor turn to him for expert input in cases involv- ing allowances and active-duty benefits and other matters. Mr. Yorke is tenacious in advocating for members who have been wronged by the system. At the same time, he employs “tough love” with members who have no case so they can get on with their life and career without wasting time. He is a patient teacher and generous about sharing his knowledge and experience with his colleagues, thereby strengthening AFSA’s entire Labor Management team. While AFSA governing boards sometimes have been accused of focusing more on career issues for Foreign Service officers ahead of specialists, Mr. Yorke has taken the lead for AFSA in assisting Foreign Service specialists (who outnumber general- ists). For example, he has negotiated with the State Department to improve the career path for office management specialists, and has worked extensively on issues involving information management specialists and Diplomatic Security agents. Mr. Yorke gets involved in assisting with cases involving the other foreign affairs agencies, as well—ably assisting members of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Foreign Com- mercial Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Agency for Global Media in similar issues relating to allowances, medical clear- ances, spousal employment and grievances. He has also provided invaluable assistance to colleagues within Labor Management on negotiations of the various collective bargain- ing agreements (such as the FAS and APHIS framework agreements), institutional issues such as a move by USAGM to essentially do away with the Foreign Service Correspon- dents Corps, and standard operating proce- dures for those agencies. For two decades, Mr. Yorke has compiled AFSA’s annual tax guide—valued by members as one of the top benefits of belong- ing to AFSA. He has writtenmany columns in The Foreign Service Journal ’s AFSA News section and posted on AFSA’s website articles detailing the ins and outs of employee allowances and benefits. “James is wonderful. No one at AFSA is easier to work with,” says FSJ Editor Shawn Dorman. “He always either knows the answer to any question, or he knows how to find it.” “James is an essential member of the AFSA Labor Manage- ment team,” AFSA General Counsel Sharon Papp, who has worked with Mr. Yorke for 25 years, tells The Foreign Service Journal . “We could not keep up with all the demands placed on the Labor Management team without James’ consistent and tireless efforts, his encyclopedic knowledge of the rules and regulations, and his willingness to help his LM colleagues out.” James Yorke.