AFSCME Across America: Organizing for Power

From state to state, workers are organizing with AFSCME for a stronger voice on the job. Here are some recent victories:

Connecticut

Sixteen employees of the South Norwalk Electric and Water Department recently joined Council 4.

Indiana

After the Monroe County Library Board of Trustees approved an AFSCME-backed collective bargaining ordinance in December, a unit of 106 library employees voted 2-1 in favor of joining Council 62 — the second time public library workers have joined the council in recent months.

Minnesota

Thirteen Hennepin County vocational counselors, who help adults with profound mental and emotional problems develop the skills they need to get a job, joined Local 2864 (Council 5). In Mahnomen County, 22 social service employees, including case aides, clerical staff, social workers and financial technicians, joined Council 65. In Rice County, five information technology employees also gained representation with the council.

New Mexico

About 300 bus and van drivers employed by the city of Albuquerque voted to join Council 18, rejecting their existing unaffiliated union. Council 18 now represents about 3,500 Albuquerque city workers.

New York

Four hundred direct care workers from The Guild for Exceptional Children in Brooklyn voted to join Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)/AFSCME Local 1000. The employees, who serve people with developmental disabilities, joined last November through majority sign-up (sometimes called card check). After a challenge, the workers were required to hold a supervised election, which they won in March. Also, 21 employees at the Sharon Baptist Church Head Start, in the Bronx, joined DC 1707 through a voluntary recognition agreement.

Ohio

Fifteen employees of the Village of Granville overwhelmingly voted to join Council 8. They include water distribution and equipment operators, mechanics, tree trimmers and dispatchers.

Virginia

Forty-eight bus operators employed by Arlington Transit and 23 bus mechanics and supply staff at the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission voted to join Local 3001.

Wisconsin

Seventy-four Douglas County Courthouse employees — office workers, deputies, economic support specialists and others — voted overwhelmingly to join Council 40.