Gabrielle Martin, President of the National Council of EEOC Locals, No. 216, AFGE/AFL-CIO, which represents EEOC’s employees, applauded the outpouring of support: "Congress recognizes the important work we do at the EEOC." The Congressional letter highlights the staffing crisis at EEOC. "Since 2001, EEOC has lost over 575 employees, which is 20 percent of its workforce." Martin explains the staffing crisis, "Our investigators, attorneys and other staff ensure an even playing field for workers, regardless of their race, religion, color national origin, age or disability. But you can’t enforce laws on the cheap or without staff. Having adequate staff to address our core mission is critical." Martin says, "We disserve the both public and America’s work force when we allow cases to sit in backlogs and grow old, while witnesses move away or their memories about events fade over time."

The letter also asks appropriators to "reconsider allowing additional funding toward EEOC’s bid to make its privatized call center permanent, especially in light of EEOC’s diminished budget request." According to Martin, "Headquarters sends out memos that we can no longer afford fax and copy machines and online legal subscriptions. Yet the agency keeps paying a contractor millions for a glorified answering service. Given the extremely poor service provided by the call center, the agency should pull the plug on this boondoggle when the contract ends in September."

To view the Congressional Letter and its signatories, please visit www.council216.org.