Indiana TSA officer juggles bills, baby costs By Cat Sandoval for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration Like many Transportation Security…

During the latest government shutdown, TSA workers across the country have gone more than a month without pay. At Indianapolis International Airport, screeners are relying on food banks, credit cards, and community donations just to get by.
#GovernmentShutdown #TSA #PublicWorkers #Indiana

WTF Wire

A new #Trumpadministration rule limits #studentloan relief for #publicworkers whose employers engage in “illegal” activity, targeting select nonprofits.
#WTFWire #EducationPolicy #StudentDebt #PublicService #HigherEducation #LoanForgiveness www.wtfwire.com/politics/tru...

✅ #HB334 #TexasPolicy #FamilyLeave #PublicWorkers #KnowYourLaws

AFSCME NJ’s Steve Tully Urges Action on Public Worker Healthcare Crisis FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 22, 2025AFSCME NJ Executive Director Steve Tully Calls for Urgent Action on Public Worker Healthcare Reform

📢 “Enough is enough.” AFSCME NJ Executive Director Steve Tully calls for bold action to fix NJ’s broken public worker healthcare system. Support A5903 and stand up for fairness, transparency, and affordability. 💪
#AFSCMENJ #HealthcareJustice #A5903 #PublicWorkers afscmenj.org/news/afscme-...

Housing scheme not enough, says Amupanda Allexer Namundjembo Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda has questioned the government’s failure to improve civil servants’ working and living conditions, despite the recent launch of a pension-backed housing scheme. His comments come as many low-level public workers continue to struggle with poor salaries and limited access to housing.  In a social media post, Amupanda criticised the government’s slogan, “We are too few to be poor,” calling it misleading. “If three million people are few, how about the 120,000 government employees? Why is their employment condition still poor? From salaries, professional development, incentives and opportunities, government employees are left behind,: he said.  Amupanda said many lower-level public workers, including cleaners and clerks, cannot afford to buy their homes.  He compared Namibia’s situation to Botswana, where, he said, a special housing scheme exists for lower-tier employees. “In Botswana, they have a special housing scheme for these lower-level employees. We have nothing similar. They are left on their own,” he said. He suggested a collective form of protest by civil servants, proposing that all public workers stay home “sick” for a day to show their value to the state. “Perhaps we need to find a day where everyone stays home ‘sick’ so that only ministers and executive directors report for duty, even those at State House. We are tired of slogans. Over to you, sloganeering government,” he wrote.  His remarks follow the recent approval of a Pension-Backed Home Loan (PBHL) scheme for civil servants by finance minister Ericah Shafudah.  The scheme allows Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) members to use up to one-third of their pension savings as collateral for home loans. Loans under the scheme will carry interest rates capped at the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate plus 2.5%. GIPF has set aside N$900 million for the scheme.  The loans will be managed and disbursed by licensed financial intermediaries, including First Capital and Kuleni Financial Services. Borrowers can use the loans to buy land, build homes, renovate, or service plots for future development. While welcomed by some, critics say the scheme overlooks key issues affecting civil servants, especially those nearing retirement or earning low wages.  They argue that older employees may not benefit, as using their pension savings now could shrink their retirement payouts. Amupanda’s comments reflect this frustration.  “As it stands, no matter what we do, low-level government employees will continue to struggle with basic needs like housing,” he said. He also pointed to housing efforts in other African countries.  In Botswana, the Public Officers Housing Initiative (POHI) supports lower-level public workers with subsidised housing loans.  In South Africa, civil servants access the Government Employees Housing Scheme (GEHS), which provides financial advice and affordable housing loans. Rwanda has partnered with the Rwanda Housing Authority and the Development Bank of Rwanda to offer affordable housing through low-interest loans, rent-to-own schemes, and cooperatives for civil servants and middle-income earners. Amupanda said Namibia needs similar reforms to match these efforts and ensure public servants are not left behind.

#HousingScheme #Namibia #JobAmupanda #CivilServants #PublicWorkers

Union slams new home loan scheme as ‘another bank product’ Justicia Shipena Financial experts and civil servant union representatives have warned that the newly endorsed Pension-Backed Home Loan (PBHL) scheme could push public workers deeper into debt if not properly managed and aligned with wage growth.  The ministry of finance endorsed the scheme on Wednesday, describing it as a step toward affordable housing for government employees. Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha said the scheme is simply “another loan product” and fails to empower workers. “Yes, I’ve been saying all along, buying a house is a payslip issue; your income determines what you qualify for. If the pension-backed loan is not matched to the wage growth of civil servants, it will only contribute to household indebtedness,” he said. Despite the loan’s lower interest rate compared to traditional loans, Kavihuha asserted that it still imposes a financial burden.  “A loan is still a loan,” he said, warning that such schemes often ignore the Labour Act. “The Labour Act, under Section 12, clearly states that no employee should take home less than one-third of their salary. This law is second only to the Constitution in protecting workers, and it should not be undermined by loan schemes that don’t consider its provisions.” He said the scheme mirrors what commercial banks already offer.  “To us, as the labour movement, this is just another bank scheme. What we are fighting for is the ability for workers to access a portion of their own pension money to invest directly, whether it’s to build a house, expand an existing property, or invest in a business. That’s empowerment.” Kavihuha advocated for treating workers as unlisted entities and granting them direct access to pension funds.  “We see our members’ money being given to companies all over, and yet workers can’t use it for themselves? Why can’t we, as individuals or communities, access that money through proposals and invest in our future?” He demanded a shift in the management of pension funds.  “We are not saying throw away the idea of housing support. We’re saying give workers real control over their pension savings; let them use it to build wealth, not just more debt.” When finance minister Ericah Shafudah endorsed the scheme in the National Assembly on Wednesday, she said it is being implemented with the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) and the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) and is underwritten by the office of the prime minister. According to the GIPF 2024 annual report, the Fund had invested in the servicing of 5,884 plots, constructed 7,840 housing units, and financed 3,286 house purchases through the First Capital Housing Fund. “This initiative is part of our commitment to improving access to decent and affordable housing, particularly for civil servants who cannot meet conventional loan requirements,” said Shafudah. The scheme allows GIPF members to use a portion of their pension savings as collateral to buy property or land, build or renovate homes, settle existing home loans, or improve basic housing.  Shafudah said the scheme is grounded in the Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956.  She said administrative and payroll arrangements are being finalised with GIPF to allow for a smooth rollout.  She said civil servants will soon receive information about eligibility, application processes, and terms. Borrowing rate  The loan interest rate will be the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate plus 2.5%. With the current repo rate at 6.75%, the PBHL scheme offers an interest rate of 9.25%. “The right to shelter is a fundamental human right. This scheme is a step forward in tackling housing inequality and empowering public servants to own homes and live with dignity,” Shafudah said.  She encouraged responsible borrowing and thanked stakeholders for their cooperation. Economist Josef Sheehama said the PBHL scheme has both advantages and risks.  “Currently, the scheme is pegged at the Bank of Namibia’s repo rate plus 2.5%. With the repo rate at 6.75%, this means members will pay an interest rate of 9.25%, which is about 2.25% lower than the standard mortgage lending rate of 11.5%. That makes it a more affordable option for borrowers,” he said. Sheehama warned that if borrowers default, the pension fund will have to settle the loan, putting retirement savings at risk. “This could undermine long-term financial security. Additionally, if the individual changes jobs, the home loan must either be repaid or transferred to a new employer and pension fund, which adds administrative complexity and risk.” He said the floating interest rate tied to the repo rate could create uncertainty.  “It would be ideal if the interest rate were fixed. This would give borrowers repayment certainty, especially in a high-interest environment. However, if rates fall, members would lose out on potential savings. Education and financial literacy are key to ensuring that members understand the full implications and make informed decisions.” Sheehama said the scheme might also encourage people to borrow more, seeing their pension as a safety net. “While this is a commendable initiative that could help many Namibians secure housing, it should not come at the expense of their future financial well-being.” The endorsement comes as GIPF said last week that the rollout of the pension-backed housing loan scheme is near completion.  The Fund had 97,512 active members in the 2023 financial year, contributing N$4.8 billion, a 3% rise from the previous year. Benefit payments fell by 9% to N$6.3 billion. GIPF’s assets were valued at N$167 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year. Of this, N$117.1 billion was managed by investment managers, N$10.1 billion was held as direct investments, and N$40 billion was in the treasury portfolio. The Fund earned N$18 billion in returns, up from N$6.5 billion in the previous year.

#HomeLoan #AffordableHousing #DebtManagement #PensionBackedLoan #PublicWorkers

Behind Trump and DOGE’s Reckless Destruction Is a Determination to Crush Workers The future of collective bargaining and labor rights in the United States is on the table.

The future of collective bargaining and labor rights in the United States - without either of which there could never be a Middle Class, ever again - is on the table.
#labor #labour #laborNews #news #public #publicSector #workers #publicWorkers #jobs #privatization #plunder #redistribution

#Mayday #Wichita #Kansas Protesters downtown with signs

rp Kansan Anarchism‬ @kansananarchist.bsky.social
#Mayday #Wichita #Kansas plenty showing up including @aft.org labor #union Kansas. All across sunflower state workers growing tired of America's oligarchic agenda. Only the workers can decide. #labor #publicworkers #unionstrong #unionize

#Mayday in #Wichita #Kansas had plenty showing up including the @aft.org labor #union of Kansas. All across the sunflower state workers are growing tired of America's oligarchic agenda. Will organized labor seize the moment? Only the workers can decide. #labor #publicworkers #unionstrong #unionize

Advocates condemn deportation orders to El Salvador internment camp amid legal concerns Community leaders decry Trump's deportation actions and their implications for civil rights.

Washtenaw County leaders are raising alarms over the deportation of immigrants to El Salvador's notorious "mega prison," where human rights violations are rampant and due process is nonexistent.

Read the full story!

#WashtenawCounty #MI #CitizenPortal #CivicEngagement #PublicWorkers

This is absolutely true.

This is so important to know it ought to be taught all through (a healthy and well-funded) PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION.

#publicworkers

Social Security Fairness Act: What You Need to Know
#SocialSecurity, #FairnessAct, #BreakingNews, #Trending, #Truth, #PublicWorkers, #RetirementBenefits, #SocialJustice

youtube.com/shorts/wcnFy...

The Social Security Fairness Act has been signed into law, bringing important changes to millions of retired public workers across the country. buff.ly/4a6BUMO #SSFA #SocialSecurity #PublicWorkers #retirement

Would be nice if #PresidentBiden cancelled #studentdebt for all #publicworkers on the way out. Would help a lot of us sleep better while we continue working to keep the state/federal government programs running. Just a #suggestion. #Biden

Fox News Politics: Biden's Early Christmas Gift to Public Workers

Fox News Politics: Biden's Early Christmas Gift to Public Workers

Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exc...

#biden #studentloans #publicworkers #politics #government

The Key to Attracting Public Workers? Pay, Not Pensions. Research shows that traditional defined-benefit retirement plans aren’t a path to improved recruitment or retention. When it comes to younger workers in particular, policymakers need to accept the new...

The Key to Attracting Public Workers? Pay, Not Pensions. www.governing.com/workforce/th...

#Politics #USPolitics #Labor #Workers #PublicWorkers #Opinion