Union leader reports new resolve among federal employees

In the wake of the worst terrorist attacks in the nation's history, federal employees returned to work Wednesday with what one said is a new resolve and dedication to the job. "I'm hearing a sense of determination," said David Schlein, national vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Schlein heads the local union in the Washington metropolitan area. "We have important work to do and will do our part. There is, of course, a concern about safety and security, but there is a sense that we will carry out our important work." AFGE has about 100 members stationed at the Pentagon. The union has not made contact with all of them. In New York, AFGE represented nearly 200 bargaining units at the World Trade Center complex. Union officials believe all their members made it out alive. As they assess the aftermath, federal unions-including AFGE, the National Federation of Federal Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union-are doing everything they can to help members and colleagues affected by Tuesday's bombings. They are encouraging members and others to donate money to the World Trade Center/Pentagon Fund, set up by the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund. "We need to help all public workers," said AFGE President Bobby Harnage, recalling the hundreds of New York firefighters killed and injured after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed. "We are telling members to contribute to the FEEA fund and increase their contributions to the Combined Federal Campaign." Unions are also organizing blood drives at workplaces across the country. Beyond that, union officials are still figuring out how they can help members affected by the terrorist attacks get information they need about benefits and medical assistance.