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About 50 federal workers and contractors gathered March 25 at Macedonia Baptist Church for practical guidance, union information and spiritual support amid job losses and fears of further cuts.
The Arlington Coalition of Black Clergy organized the town hall after hearing from congregants who had been fired or believed their jobs could soon be eliminated.
“We wanted them to know their rights and get resources and be able to spend time in a safe space,” said the Rev. DeLishia Davis, pastor of Calloway Methodist Church and the coalition’s president.
The meeting opened with a passage identified as Colossians 23 encouraging people to work willingly, followed by a call to “empower us to use our voice.”
Alissa Tafti, a federal employee speaking for the American Federation of Government Employees, urged workers to become more vocal. She argued that efforts were underway to dismantle the government and invited attendees to focus the discussion on their questions.
Many asked what assistance was available and how government unions could help. Tafti acknowledged that support for federal workers remained insufficient, although she said numerous groups were working to expand it.
Employees have several union options, she said, and workers without an available union can still organize. She pointed to increased organizing nationwide and said collective bargaining was providing some stability during the upheaval.
Tafti said many federal employees feared speaking publicly and characterized demands to report official time spent on union activities as part of an effort to intimidate workers. Federal employees often perform their jobs without attracting attention, she said, but the public now needs to understand the consequences of removing them from government positions.
Recalling the oath she took to defend the Constitution against foreign and domestic enemies, Tafti said she once expected to concentrate on writing research reports. The current moment, she said, had compelled her to speak out.
She encouraged attendees to contact elected representatives, attend rallies and protests, and reach people in other states. Her suggested strategy was for each person to contact five others and ask them to continue the chain.
Tafti also challenged broad calls for government efficiency, saying advocates should explain how small government should become and what level of spending is appropriate for services such as protecting children’s health. Cutting employees without understanding their work, she argued, does not amount to efficiency.
The volume of simultaneous developments can leave people overwhelmed and unsure how to respond, Tafti said, making it difficult to translate personal experiences into action.
The gathering concluded with spiritual encouragement from the Rev. James Victor, pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Victor described the situation as both a political and spiritual crisis and offered individual prayers to those who wanted them.
Davis said the coalition’s next step would be compiling information about housing, food and other assistance to distribute among its 18 member congregations.