News

NEW BRITAIN, CT — Members of the Council 4 Delegate Assembly tonight elected Jody Barr to be Executive Director of the union representing more than 30,000 public service workers in Connecticut.

Barr, a member of AFSCME Local 2836 (State University Organization of Administrative Faculty) received 25,284 votes to 1,756 votes for Charles DellaRocco, a member of AFSCME Local 749 (State Judicial Branch and Division of Criminal Justice.) The Executive Director's term is four years.

When AFSCME members stand together, we have power in numbers. Together, we can defend our freedom to take our loved ones to the doctor when they get sick and retire with dignity some day. Together, we have the power to make our voices heard at work and in our democracy. That’s our AFSCME Agenda.

Public service workers across the country are losing their foothold in the middle class. So says an article in The New York Times this week that serves as a reminder of why labor unions are more needed now than ever.

Against a backdrop of legislative and judicial attacks aimed at destroying the rights and freedoms of unionized workers – including the forthcoming Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 – more than 200 members of affiliated local unions and chapters helped chart a path forward during Council 4’s biennial business convention on April 14 in Farmington, CT.

Convention highlights included keynote remarks by Danny Homan, President of AFSCME Council 61, which represents public sector workers in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.

Less than three months after its inaugural meeting, the legislative Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth last Friday released its recommendations to the General Assembly. Considering the panel's domination by corporate executives, their proposals are unsurprisingly heavily tilted in favor of the ultra-rich. Still, their plan to silence the voices of Connecticut's working men and women are cause for genuine concern — and a call to action.

“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.

Click here for a copy of the Council 4 constitution, last revised with approval of delegates to our 2016 Convention.

AFSCME Local 1303, the union representing Connecticut's municipal workers, is pleased to announce we once again offering college scholarships.

We have eight $1,000 scholarships available this year for high school seniors who will be attending college in the fall of 2018.