News

First Aid, CPR & AED trainings offered

AFSCME offers First Aid, CPR & AED trainings that are certified by the American Red Cross (ARC). 

In Memoriam: Lawrence “Larry” Amendola, 1934-2024

Council 4 mourns the loss of Lawrence “Larry” Amendola, former President and founding member of AFSCME Local 3144, New Haven Management and Professional Employees.

State Employees’ Reopener, Recruitment and Retention Agreement Overwhelmingly Passes General Assembly

State Employees’ Reopener, Recruitment and Retention Agreement Overwhelmingly Passes General Assembly

Agreement supports protection and expan

Pandemic Pay Update for State Workers

Frontline essential state workers sacrificed their health and safety throughout COVID-19 to ensure that the critical public services our 3.6 million Connecticut residents rely on remained accessible.

While Connecticut can never fully repay frontline essential workers (private, municipal and state), it can certainly take a step to respect these workers. Pandemic pay is that step.

Public Service Proud: Family, union members working side by side

The union makes its members brothers and sisters, but we also have parents and their kids who are AFSCME members — sometimes working together side by side.

Local 1716 President Orlando Mercado Jr. works alongside his father, Orlando Mercado Sr., in the City of Hartford Public Works garage.

The younger Mercado has been the local president for almost a year and on the job for 10 years. He’s an automotive mechanic, working on police cruisers, the mayor’s car and other city vehicles.

Strong push yields pandemic pay for union members

More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, public sector workers remain essential, and some elected leaders in Connecticut — with a strong push from our union members — are recognizing their hard work and sacrifices with pandemic “hero” pay.

At the municipal level, several AFSCME Council 4 locals have won pandemic pay for members in high-risk jobs.

Hartford school employees win contract after working a year without one

After working for nearly a year without a contract, AFSCME Local 566 members ratified a new one in May with the Hartford Board of Education. 

Local 566 represents 240 Hartford schools support staff, including custodians, maintenance staff and cafeteria workers.

Remembering Council 4 Service Rep Bob Parziale, 1960-2022

The Council 4 union family suffered a terrible loss with the death of Service Representative Robert “Bob” Parziale, who died unexpectedly June 18 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. He was 61.

“Parz,” as he was routinely and affectionately called, joined Council 4 in 2008 after a 20-plus year career as a state correction officer. 

New Medicare Advantage Administrator Announced For State Retirees

SEBAC leaders and Health Care Cost Containment Committee (HCCCC) members Jody Barr (Executive Director, AFSCME Council 4) and Carl Chisem (President, CEUI Local 511) joined Governor Ned Lamont and State Comptroller Natalie Braswell at a press conference on May 31st to announce that Aetna has been selected as the new Medicare Advantage administrator for the state health plan following an in depth request for proposal (RFP) process. 

Council 4 Members Are Crusaders For Mental Health Wellbeing

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental illness and conditions.

Members of AFSCME Local 1303-143 employed at Bridges Healthcare Inc. in Milford support individuals with severe and prolonged mental illness, behavioral issues and addiction problems.

For Patti “Mama P” Barber, case manager, and Wendy Burrows-Gardino, peer community support specialist, their work involves helping people become more self-sufficient and reach their goals.

Public Service Proud: Spotlight on social workers

Social work encompasses a diverse range of careers. There are school personnel, mental health professionals, substance abuse specialists — all important roles that improve our communities and help people live safe, fulfilling lives.

Without the work social workers do, children and parents would have fewer resources, senior citizens would be more vulnerable to exploitation and the most downtrodden in our society wouldn’t have their basic needs met.

Currently, Council 4 AFSCME Local 2663 represents workers in 12 state agencies, four of which employ social workers.