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:
California
A unit of 123 supervisors employed by the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department formed a union with Council 36.
Illinois
Sixty-two state internal security invest-igators recently joined Council 31. Also building a union with the council are 41 Southwestern Correctional Center substance abuse counselors employed by Community Educational Centers Inc., who prevailed over an aggressive anti-union campaign led by a hired consultant.
Massachusetts
Through voluntary recognition, 28 employees of the town of Adams — including those who work in the Town Hall, library, public works, water and power, maintenance and Council on Aging — joined Local 204 (Council 93). The local already represented 130 other Adams employees.
Minnesota
Thirty-three Chippewa County Family Services employees — financial workers, case aides, child support officers and clerical staff — joined Council 65.
New York
Following a unanimous vote, 67 Albany Public Library employees, including computer specialists, librarians, clerks and custodial workers, joined Civil Service Employees Association/AFSCME Local 1000. Also, 14 day care educators of Miniventures of New York Inc. have formed a union with DC 1707.
Ohio
Twenty-two Euclid City School security guards have joined Ohio Association of Public School Employees/AFSCME Local 4.
Oklahoma
In Midwest City, 129 municipal employees (public works, sanitation, streets, parks and other departments) joined Oklahoma City Local 2406.
Rhode Island
Forty-eight Newport and Middletown school bus drivers, aides and monitors employed by private contractor First Student Inc. have joined Council 94. In addition to Rhode Island, AFSCME represents more than 1,600 First Student employees in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Virginia
By an overwhelming vote, 94 bus operators employed by Fastran, a Fairfax County transit system for senior citizens, low-income residents and the disabled, joined Local 3001. Fastran is operated by First Transit, an affiliate of First Student Inc., the world’s largest school bus contractor.
Wisconsin
Seventy library employees of the city of Racine voted to join Local 67 (Council 40).