News

Federal money for programs and services that help millions of vulnerable Americans and employ many AFSCME members could be in jeopardy next year.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and front-line public service workers from states experiencing surges in coronavirus cases to urge the Senate to approve at least $1 trillion in flexible aid to states, cities and towns.

Click here for our latest Council 4 Unplugged podcast. 

On this episode, recorded Aug. 12, 2020, Michele Evermore of the National Employment Law Project and Xavier Gordon of AFSCME Local 269, representing the CT Department of Labor, join us to discuss the struggles facing unemployed workers and the political fight over unemployment insurance benefits.

AFSCME joined a virtual gathering of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, a movement that seeks to shift the moral narrative of our country and build power for poor and vulnerable people.

The news media last week thrust state employees' contractual benefits into the spotlight following Governor Ned Lamont's public remarks at his daily COVD-19 (novel coronavirus) briefing. His comments further renewed attempts by Republican legislators to push for unlawfully breaking collective bargaining agreements.

AFSCME praised today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that extends protections under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to millions of LGBTQ workers.

In a statement, AFSCME President Lee Saunders said such protections are long overdue and represent an important step in the fight for equality and justice for all workers.

Congressman Joe Courtney from CT’s 2nd District joins us on Council 4 Unplugged to talk about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and congressional efforts to secure a robust federal aid package -- an initiative we're calling "Fund. the Front Lines" -- to support our state, cities and towns. 

Click here for our latest Council 4 Unplugged podcast. 

Economists of diverse backgrounds, who might otherwise disagree on a range of policy issues, spoke with a single voice on Monday on the need for Congress to provide robust aid to states, cities and towns.

Such aid, they said, is crucial in the midst of an economic crisis that is decimating state and local budgets and threatening essential public services that are critical to beating the pandemic and jumpstarting the economy.

If you are an active member or retiree of Council 4 AFSCME, you can take advantage of a no-cost $4,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment benefit.

This benefit and others listed below are provided jointly through AFSCME Council 4 and American Income Life Insurance Company (AIL), a 100% union company serving working families just like yours.