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

Council 4 Corrections members stand strong in wave of staff assaults, call for legislative action

This past summer, Council 4 members working in our state’s correctional facilities endured a series of weekly consecutive staff assaults by inmates that left multiple members critically injured. This wave is a symptom of a worsening trend in staff assaults, which in Connecticut have almost doubled since the pandemic. This trend coincides with recent policy changes that have limited certain tools and mechanisms at the disposal of correctional staff to ensure the safety of each other and inmates who choose violence against other inmates.

3 years after unionizing, Putnam secretaries win first contract and more flexibility

When 12 administrative secretaries in the Putnam school district faced restrictions on using their vacation time, they did something no one expected – they formed a union. Three years after unionizing, they have a new contract, including the ability to use their vacation time on their own terms.

Getting Organized: Council 4 members learn how to engage new hires

Council 4 members are getting organized and building power. In September, AFSCME International Union (IU) staff visited Council 4 to run a special training on New Hire Orientations. More than 30 leaders from various locals gathered in New Britain, learning with and from each other about onboarding new hires into our union and effective ways to engage our members. High-quality orientations have proven to increase sign-ups among new hires and bolster their commitment to the union.

First Aid, CPR & AED trainings offered

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

AFSCME members support President Biden’s new student debt relief plans

AFSCME members support President Biden’s new student debt relief plans

Photo credit: The White House

Council 4 Education Scholarships

COUNCIL 4 EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

To recognize the extraordinary efforts of our members and to foster unionism, Council 4 is offering continuing education assistance in the form of a $2,000 per year scholarship for up to four years (max $8,000) to dependents of Council 4 members and retirees. 

Each year, the Council 4 Scholarship Committee selects two students to award a $2,000 scholarship paid to the school of the winners.  Winners are eligible for up to four consecutive years by doing a brief presentation to the executive board.

Security when it matters: Pay raises for unionized workers reached multi-decade high in 2023

The last few years have seen a rise in worker momentum, with unionized workers raising their voices to demand higher pay, safer working conditions and more.

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 members — under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.