Bold Action Big Change: The Power to Win Plan

Our adversaries are attacking our jobs, our health care, our pensions and the vital services we provide. That’s why we must fight back harder and smarter than ever. Delegates to AFSCME’S 37th International Convention adopted the 21st Century Initiative, our bold new Power to Win plan to mobilize more members, increase our political power, bring in new members and use our increased strength and power to negotiate better contracts. These are AFSCME’S Power to Win priorities.

Mobilize Members

The best way to make our union stronger is to get more members involved. The International Union is creating a Leadership Institute to provide members and leaders with the tools they need to build active local unions. ACTION!

Hold Politicians Accountable

We elect our bosses, so we’ve got to elect politicians who support us and then hold them accountable on our issues. To raise the volume of our voices in the halls of power, we  are building a year-round legislative and political action program — including an army of 40,000 AFSCME activists — and calling on affiliates to boost PEOPLE participation rates to at least 25 percent. POWER!

Increase Our Membership

We gain more power at the ballot box and bargaining table by bringing more public service workers into the union. That’s why we’re going keep growing our union by helping 70,000 workers a year win the right to join AFSCME. You can help by becoming a Volunteer Member Organizer. GROWTH!

Get Stronger

We can’t win the battles we face if we don’t build stronger organizations, so we’re going to help every council and local union build the strength and organizational capacity they need to win in politics, organizing and at the bargaining table.STRENGTH!

Project a Bold, New Image

We’re tired of being disrespected by politicians, the media and others. We are launching an aggressive campaign to educate reporters, elected officials and the general public about the important work we do in the public service and to project the values and power of our union. RESPECT!

Make Affordable Health Care Universal

For too long we’ve been forced to sacrifice wage increases just to maintain our health benefits. We’ll lead the fight for comprehensive national health care reform to take cuts in health care insurance off the bargaining table and fix a system that is immoral and inefficient. SECURITY!