[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       TRIBUTE TO JOHN STURDIVANT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has lost an outstanding labor 
leader. The late John Sturdivant was a loyal public servant who 
faithfully served our Nation's public servants. As president of the 
American Federation of Government Employees, John Sturdivant deeply 
believed in the importance of Government service and deeply valued our 
system of Government.
  From 1991 through 1994, as the chairman of the House Post Office and 
Civil Service Committee, I was privileged to work with John Sturdivant 
on a variety of issues. I respected John as an aggressive advocate of 
the rights of Federal workers. He was very actively involved in the 
successful effort to enact the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act. 
And, John fought tirelessly to protect the salaries and benefits of his 
members as those on the other side sought to balance the Federal budget 
on the backs of Government workers. He worked closely with the members 
of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee staff and took a strong 
personal interest in all legislation affecting the retirement and 
health benefits of Federal workers. He and his fellow union members 
worked closely with the Post Office and Civil Service Committees to 
develop legislation to mitigate the effect of defense downsizing and 
base closings on Federal workers. John Sturdivant also helped to 
establish a Federal employee buyout program that became the model for 
civilian government agencies experiencing downsizing.
  John Sturdivant was at the forefront of the effort to ensure that 
Government, itself, lives up to the promise of equal opportunity for 
its own workforce. No one worked harder to bring about reform of the 
Hatch Act. Until it was amended, the Hatch Act precluded Federal 
employees from engaging in any effort to campaign in a partisan 
election campaign. John Sturdivant clearly understood the dangers of 
Hatch Act restrictions on Federal workers and was outraged that anyone 
should be required to sacrifice this most vital right of free speech in 
order to work for the Federal Government.
  When John Sturdivant became president of the American Federation of 
Government Employees, he worked diligently and successfully to lobby 
the Congress to amend the antiquated Hatch Act. Then he encouraged his 
members to exercise their new rights and take an active interest in the 
politics of this Nation and the affairs of Government. John Sturdivant 
helped bring out the voice of Government workers. He understood that in 
a democracy, the ballot was the ultimate power and that the surest 
means of self-protection for AFGE members was active, informed 
political participation. John Sturdivant made certain that those he 
represented understood their rights and responsibilities. That by 
itself is a significant legacy.
  I will miss John Sturdivant as I cherish his memory.

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