News

Biden forgives student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised the White House’s announcement Thursday that the Biden administration will forgive student loans for an additional 78,000 borrowers — including many AFSCME mem

Council 4 Members Assert Their Rights and Freedoms as Supreme Court Hears Anti-Worker Janus Case

We Rise New Haven 2 26 18

“Our union. Our choice. You’re not gonna take away our voice.”

That was the rallying cry of more than 200 union workers and community allies who rallied on the steps of New Haven City Hall today to protect the rights and freedom of workers to negotiate together and fight for decent and equitable pay, affordable health care, quality schools, and vibrant communities.

Unions Urge Business Leaders To Take High Road to Growth

Leaders of Connecticut’s labor movement took a strong stand against attacks on working people in a wide-ranging presentation to the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth, advocating an approach that invests in public services and structures, makes Connecticut's tax structure fairer, and provides workers with the security and purchasing power needed for sustainable growth.

“Time to Raise Up Workers!” Connecticut Unions Declare at Start of Legislative Session

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 

HARTFORD, Conn. – As the Connecticut General Assembly convenes today for the start of the 2018 session, unions representing thousands of Connecticut workers are standing together to demand the passage of bills that would support working people and strengthen communities in one of the most economically divided states in the nation. Together, union workers are supporting statewide bills that would provide:

New Year's Day or Groundhog Day?

During this time of giving and reflection, a new opportunity has emerged to help move toward a more prosperous future for all. Most Connecticut politicians have for the past two years refused to ask millionaires and corporations to pay their fair share to protect and preserve our state's quality of life. But passage last week of massive, permanent federal tax cuts for the nation's rich and powerful offers hope in 2018 for reclaiming needed resources on behalf of working families.

Council 4 Podcast Tackles Sexual Harassment

Our latest Council 4 Unplugged podcast takes on the topical issue of sexual harassment.

Our guests are Tanjorie Godwin (AFSCME Local 1565) and  Cathy Osten (CSEA-SEIU), who were among the union members who fought back against the culture of sexual harassment cultivated by Department of Correction management more than 12 years ago.

Godwin, who retired from DOC in 2015, and Osten, a three-term State Senator, say their unions made a big difference in advancing their fight for justice.

AFSCME v. Janus: A Threat To All Working People

AFSCME members across the country, including Correctional Officer Matt Quigley from Local 1565 of Council 4, offer insight into how a Supreme Court case called Janus v. AFSCME threatens the rights and freedoms of all workers, union and non-union alike.

  • Click here to learn more from Matt and other AFSCME members, and join the fight to stand up for our union.

Correctional Union Comments on Closing of Enfield C.I.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2017

Collin Provost, President of the Connecticut State Prison Employees Union, AFSCME Local 391 issued the following statement in response to the Department of Correction’s announcement today that it plans to close Enfield Correctional Institution:

Council 4 Members Call Janus Case An Assault on Our Freedom

For Immediate Release
Oct. 23, 2017

Council 4 members are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to grant Certiorari in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, which would make the entire public sector “right-to-work” in one fell swoop.