[Joe C.]

So we have another federal holiday that ALL AMERICANS can't identify with. Do we really need it? Or is it just paying lip service to a small minority? Most Americans either never heard of Juneteenth (not even a real word) or if they did, weren't really interested in it.
So I consider it another notch in the slow decline of the U.S.A.

I do believe in July 4th......a day to celebrate ALL AMERICANS.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Maryland Girl

Evanston, Ilinois, unless they have changed it back already. Google? Please.

Yes Google. Like it or not it is the most complete search engine today. In fact, it helped me find the information on Evanston, Illinois.

They have a great crystal ball in Evanston, Illinois. Google found articles from March and May announcing that the activities for July 4 had been cancelled. If these were canceled due to Juneteenth then Evanston knew three months before anyone else that there would be a new holiday!

Or, just maybe, Evanston canceled their July 4 activities with no thought of Juneteenth. Even the Fox News article acknowledges that the July 4 decision was made earlier in the year and based on Covid concerns.

So again, which cities canceled July 4 events in order to celebrate Juneteenth instead?

[billethkid]

Just another "notch" for the special interest groups.
Doesn't mean much, if at all, to most!

[sharonl7340]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If you include sick leave, 13 days, vacation, 26 days (for those with 15 years of service), and holidays, 11, it comes to 50 days off. And, the day after Thanksgiving is often added as a day off, by the President.

No, you are mistaken. The Friday after Thanksgiving is NOT often given to Federal Employees as a day off. Sometimes it is (that is at the discretion of the commander in chief); but most often it is considered a "liberal leave" day (which means that most everyone can take that day off using their annual leave as long as there is at least one person in the office that covers phone calls). I retired this past December and had a compressed work schedule that usually always fell on that particular Friday. When it didn't I took annual leave. I can only remember a few times that we got that Friday off by executive order.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Joe C.

So we have another federal holiday that ALL AMERICANS can't identify with. Do we really need it? Or is it just paying lip service to a small minority? Most Americans either never heard of Juneteenth (not even a real word) or if they did, weren't really interested in it.
So I consider it another notch in the slow decline of the U.S.A.

I do believe in July 4th......a day to celebrate ALL AMERICANS.

Thank you for speaking for me and clearing that up. I wasn't sure if I could identify with it or not.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

Another Federal holiday for me! 👍👍

Guess you’re still working? Everyday holiday for me.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Guess you’re still working? Everyday holiday for me.

I agree work is a 4 letter word

[GPGuar]

The holidays that you mention-are not federal holidays even though many if not most have those days off.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Ptmckiou

Seems like an appropriate holiday to me…and a long time coming! Great!

We also need to make the National Election Day a holiday, for obvious reasons too.

Why? when can mail in you’re vote 3 months in advance and two days after

[sharonl7340]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

They always get a day off for a holiday that occurs on a weekend. It is either a Friday or a Monday.

13 days of sick leave per year may not sound like a lot, but it can be accululated over the years. So, if you are a supervisor of long term employees, many of the employees will have the option of using an entire year of accumulated sick leave and be absent from the job any time they want. They can even use it to care for another person they know. There are many Federal employees in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, who almost never show up for work. A "for profit" business could never operate with those rules.

Really? I worked for 4 federal agencies in my career and I knew very few of these people (if any). In fact I knew several employees who worked their asses off, and either died at their desk or on the weekend when they weren't on the federal clock. I actually take a offense at many of these posts tone. I earned every dollar, every benefit while I was a federal employee.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Mrprez

Just to be clear, not all federal employees are eligible to be in a union. My wife is a retired federal worker, she worked for the U.S. Courts and there were no union workers. The courthouse security officers are union, but they are not federal employees. They operate under a private contract for the US Marshall’s Service.

I’d also like to add that she worked her butt off and deserves every benefit she receives in her retirement.

Very low percentage, was she in management? Contracting totally different, they get higher wages so federal government don’t have pay benefits, the contractor responsible. I had contractor working with me, knew very little about the job and got paid more than me, but I was responsible for the work, time, and his training. By the time I actually got him trained and somewhat productive the contract ended. So, yes there low percentage that can’t unionize or join. Union’s does not like contracting it limited their base.

[Mrprez]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Very low percentage, was she in management? Contracting totally different, they get higher wages so federal government don’t have pay benefits, the contractor responsible. I had contractor working with me, knew very little about the job and got paid more than me, but I was responsible for the work, time, and his training. By the time I actually got him trained and somewhat productive the contract ended. So, yes there low percentage that can’t unionize or join. Union’s does not like contracting it limited their base.

No, not management. Her official title was intake clerk.

According to this source, only 26% of federal workers are union.

Top Industries for Union Jobs in America

[Travelingal702]

Originally Posted by Neils

When are the special holidays for American Indians? Italian Americans, Asian Americans, Latino Americans?

Oh, and don't forget German-Americans

[KRMACK55]

Originally Posted by dnptrll

A radio announcer said yesterday that the addition of Juneteenth as a paid Federal Holiday makes a total of 48/year. That means that Federal employees get a total of over 9 weeks of paid holidays every year. Can that be correct?

That is not true.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by sharonl7340

Really? I worked for 4 federal agencies in my career and I knew very few of these people (if any). In fact I knew several employees who worked their asses off, and either died at their desk or on the weekend when they weren't on the federal clock. I actually take a offense at many of these posts tone. I earned every dollar, every benefit while I was a federal employee.

I appreciate your service. And please don't take the comments here personally. Most complaining about the government has never worked in those jobs. Most are spouting party rhetoric - the old adage that government is the problem, not the solution.