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

Nevada COs First to File for Recognition Since Collective Bargaining Law

LAS VEGAS – Corrections workers have become the first group of state workers to ask to be recognized as AFSCME in contract negotiations since Nevada adopted a law in June giving state employees the right to collectively bargain.

The corrections unit filed for recognition Friday with the state’s Government Employee-Management Relations Board after majority of the staff asked to be represented in contract talks as AFSCME Local 4041.

Meet the 2019 Winner of the Gerald W. McEntee Scholarship

This year’s winner of the Gerald W. McEntee Scholarship is someone who defends workers' rights, supports her community and is deeply involved in her union. 

Membership Alert: Important Union Meetings Scheduled

August 28: Special Meeting To Vote on Constitutional Changes

In accordance with Article V, section 4 and Article XI, Section 1 of the AFSCME Local 1303 Constitution, a special meeting is being called for Wednesday, August 28, 2019  at 6p.m. at Council 4 headquarters, 444 East Main Street New Britain, CT 06051.

The purpose of the meeting is to ratify proposed changes to the AFSCME Local 1303 Constitution. 

Local 1303 Members Beat Back Retirement Attack in Stamford

Pensions and retirement security are under attack across the country. But when the Ferguson Library in Stamford tried to slash benefits during recent contract negotiations, the members of AFSCME Local 1303-317 fought back.

Their solidarity and patience paid off as library management ultimately backed off on the retirement and health care takeaways, and reached a settlement with the 44-member union.

Union Coalition Effort Leads To Enactment of PTSD Bill

Sgt. Charles Paris of the Bridgeport Police Department and Patrolman Blain Rogozinski of the New Britain Police Department have witnessed the psychological and emotional toll that is too often the by-product of working in law enforcement. 

“We’ve lost two officers in the last two years who committed suicide,” said Paris, president of AFSCME Local 1159.

“Nobody should go through what we see on a daily basis,” said Rogozinski, the president of AFSCME Local 1165.

Candidates Say Yes to Union Rights

The 19 presidential candidates who participated in the AFSCME Public Service Forum on Saturday disagreed on a range of topics, but they all agreed on one issue – our country needs a federal law that expands and protects collective bargaining rights for all public service workers.

At Last. Congress Authorizes Permanent 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund

After years of debate and delay, Congress has finally passed a bill to ensure that first responders who suffered health problems after responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks will receive health care and other compensation for as long as they live.

2020 Public Service Forum is Largest Candidate Event in AFSCME History

With former Vice President Joe Biden confirming his participation on Tuesday, the AFSCME-sponsored presidential candidate forum on Aug. 3 will be the biggest event of its kind in our union’s history.