AFSCME’s Agenda to Rebuild the Middle Class

It’s time to renew the promise of America — that if you work hard and play by the rules you can get ahead and give your children the opportunity to live a better life. This is a summary of our agenda to help more families achieve the American dream.

Make Health Care Secure and Affordable.

We’ve bargained hard for our health coverage. Lately, we’ve had to sacrifice well-deserved wage increases to keep our good benefits. We must protect our health insurance, put a cap on skyrocketing costs and provide affordable coverage for all Americans. As part of national health care reform, we are working to fix the Medicare prescription drug law so our seniors can get the medicines they need.

Make College Affordable.

Economic and educational opportunity are keys to the American dream. But the cost of higher education and the scarcity of financial aid leaves many people behind. We must make tuition affordable so every student who wants a college education can get one.

Guarantee a Secure Retirement.

Working families deserve retirement security. AFSCME is fighting efforts by Pres. George W. Bush and others to privatize Social Security, and battling every politician who wants to reduce public employee pension benefits, and raid pension funds to balance budgets and pay for pork barrel projects. We must safeguard and strengthen Social Security and defined benefit pensions, and oppose any measure that reduces guaranteed benefits.

Restore Worker’s Freedom to Bargain for a Better Life.

The hands of working men and women built this country, yet every day we are left out of its prosperity. Unions created the middle class and are the key to a strong and growing economy. The next President must sign the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers the freedom to join unions, without being harassed or intimidated by their employers.

Strengthen Public Services.

AFSCME’s 1.4 million members provide the vital local, state and federal services that make America happen. We must increase investment in these services. We must fight privatization schemes that weaken the public sector, reduce the quality and availability of services and take away our members jobs. We must eliminate tax breaks for the rich and close corporate tax loopholes and repeal tax breaks for companies that outsource American jobs overseas.