Member Spotlight: Brandee Morris (AFGE)

Member Spotlight is a recurring blog post series intended to highlight and connect the dots between the programs and priorities of the NC State AFL-CIO and the leaders and activist members of our affiliates who make it all possible.

My name is Brandee Morris, I’m a native of Asheville, and I have worked for the federal government for 24 years. I’m president of AFGE Local 446, which represents workers at four agencies, and love what I do! I am passionate about workers being treated with respect and dignity, and I get to be a voice for those who are too shy to speak out. 

I started getting more active with my union after the birth of my first daughter. I was always a dues-paying member but never needed my union…until I did! I was struggling to find a place to pump my breast milk and had to keep taking unpaid leave to pump privately. When management threatened to discipline me for it, I went to my union rep for help and guidance. She not only gave me her own office space to pump in private, but she also marched up to my supervisor and made sure I wouldn’t have any problems going forward. This inspired me to help others. And supporting my members is a great way for me to support the public as well. 

What people don’t understand about federal employees is that our work takes care of America. We serve America. We help the community and offer aid and resources to people who need it. And being in a union is a way for those who serve America to get the support they need too. If I ever end up working anywhere else, and they have a union, then joining is the first thing I’ll do, even before I sign up for health insurance! I always ask people, why not sign up for job insurance? That’s what we do, we protect your job and make things safer. 

AFGE is the largest federal union in the nation. We are a bargaining union, which means we have to work with our managers to achieve common goals. That’s gotten a lot harder since the new administration has taken office and began trying everything to bust our union. It’s so bad I’ve even had supervisors tell me they would pay union dues if they could just to help us fight the good fight. Whether we’re talking about breaks, annual leave, sick leave, reasonable accommodations, how best to do our jobs safely and provide services efficiently, or even having due process when our rights are violated – all of that is at risk. North Carolina is a “right to work” state, and without unions there will be no worker’s rights.

Last fall, my hometown was gravely affected by Hurricane Helene. Certain areas still look like a warzone, with mud and rocks everywhere. Our community has come together in so many ways to try and help each other. But there is still so much more to do. It’s more important now than ever to band together, speak up and speak out, and lend our voices to the voiceless. There is strength in numbers and power solidarity, but people can’t be bystanders. You need to get engaged!