Leaders of the nation’s largest federal employees’ union is touting several of its legislative priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act that “will directly improve workers’ pay and job security and signify the critical role of civilian employees in serving our troops and maintaining our national defense,” according to a press release.

The American Federation of Government Employees represents about 300,000 DOD civilians, as well as other federal employees.

Among the items AFGE are two weeks of paid bereavement leave for all federal civilian employees and reducing from two years to one the probationary period new DOD civilians must go through before receiving benefits.

A House-Senate compromise version of the defense policy bill passed the House this week and is pending in the Senate.

Navy photo by Stacia Courtney