In the latest documentary, AFGE member and D.C. Investigator Audrey Townsend discusses fighting for equal pay for women
WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2014– For Audrey Townsend, the fact that women get paid 77 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts isn’t just a statistic. It’s a call to action.
As a women’s coordinator for American Federation of Government Employees Local 383, Audrey serves as a spokesperson for all of the female District of Columbia government employees who aren’t receiving equal pay for equal work.
“My job is to represent them and to represent to the D.C. City Council that women deserve the same equal pay as men,” she says. “I would ask them, Would you want your daughter making less than her brother? It’s important that everyone have the same equal playing field, without gender being a factor.”
Audrey shares her story in the latest documentary produced by AFGE, which is the largest union representing federal and D.C. government employees. The documentary series is part of AFGE’s year-long campaign, “I Am AFGE,” to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of the women and men who work for them every day. Audrey’s passion for improving the quality of life for all people extends to her job with the D.C. Department of Human Services, where she investigates reported cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation involving vulnerable adults.
Through her job, Audrey helps protect the city’s most vulnerable residents from being left in a living situation that could result in abuse and possibly death.
“Members like Audrey not only perform a public service in their day-to-day jobs, but also by representing our union members to ensure equality in the workplace,” AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. “The employees we represent in the District of Columbia touch every resident’s life in one way or another, fighting to ensure D.C. residents have a government that works for them.”
Audrey says she gets just as much from AFGE as she gives. AFGE provides her with regular training on workplace discrimination and equal employment rights, so she can pass on that information to other members.
“AFGE empowers me to be who I am so I’m able to represent other people. AFGE provides a platform for me to get up and to represent those who may not have a strong voice,” she says.
Audrey’s story is one of 15 short-form documentaries being released by AFGE through the end of the year, highlighting individual federal employees who carry out important work across the country. All of the videos are being posted online and distributed to hundreds of news outlets across the country. The campaign also is being promoted through social media, an employee photo contest and other events.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 670,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
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SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees RELATED LINKS http://www.afge.org
