Federal workers are speaking out against the attacks on public services we all rely on.
But public services are at risk not only at the federal level. They are also under threat at the state and local levels.
These attacks are coming from the billionaire class, the “yes” men and women in Congress, and anti-union extremists who have seized control of government.
Many state budgets rely heavily on federal funds. Local public services are sometimes supported by federal agencies. AFSCME members at the state and local levels know this firsthand, and many are joining their federal counterparts in speaking out.
Here are the stories of two AFSCME members who fear for the stability of the services they provide their local communities. They both work for public libraries that receive federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS is under threat of being permanently closed but AFSCME is fighting it in court.