Master Agreement Bargaining

USCIS: September 5, 2009 will mark the two year anniversary of the master collective bargaining agreement with little to no progress during the past year. The union negotiations team is led by USCIS Council President Michael Knowles and, until recently, had an AFGE staffer sitting at the table with the team. The council has gone through four different AFGE bargaining experts in the last two years and Field Services & Education Department Director Bill Fletcher reports: "These negotiations have continued but by mutual agreement, AFGE is giving advice but we are not sitting at the table."

USICE: The Council President stepped down upon taking a management position. She asked that we appoint someone to take over as chief negotiator. Darlene DesJardins has assumed that role. This has been a difficult negotiations process.