Priorities | Page 25 | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

February 21, 2019

Paid Parental Leave – Negotiated by Workers For Workers Through Their Unions

Union jobs gave Amanda and Justin Aurelius something priceless last year: Time off together with their new baby and toddler son.

February 15, 2019

Child Care Workers Stand Together for Better Early Education

“Having a union means the state agencies can’t just do whatever they want. We are part of an organization that knows the rules and helps providers."

February 15, 2019

AFSCME President Calls Trump’s Emergency Declaration ‘An Abuse of Power’

President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration is an “abuse of power,” according to AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

February 13, 2019

NJ Minimum Wage Will Rise to $15/Hour By 2024

New Jersey becomes the fourth jurisdiction in the country to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour.

February 12, 2019

More Proof of a Rigged System

As U.S. banks enjoy a massive tax windfall, they continue to slash jobs, proving that the deck remains stacked toward corporations and against workers.

February 07, 2019

NAACP President: Labor Rights Are Civil Rights

The head of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson, made a strong case for a future in which the fights for labor rights and civil rights are one and the same.

February 06, 2019

SOTU Response: Invest in Our Communities and Public Services to Strengthen the Nation

Read AFSCME President Lee Saunders’ response to the State of the Union address.

February 05, 2019

AFSCME Supports Bill to Rebuild America’s Schools

The Rebuild America’s Schools Act would invest $100 billion to create over 1.9 million jobs by addressing critical physical and digital infrastructure needs in schools.

January 29, 2019

Unions Aren’t Going Anywhere

It turns out our opponents wildly underestimated the loyalty and resolve of AFSCME members, their desire to stick with their union.

January 25, 2019

Wanted: A Permanent End to the Government Shutdown

A three-week end to the government shutdown isn’t enough. What America needs is a permanent end, AFSCME president says.

January 25, 2019

AFSCME Supports Push for $15/Hour Federal Minimum Wage Bill

Earlier this month, progressive leaders in Congress introduced a bill to more than double the minimum wage by 2024.

January 23, 2019

The Real Story of the Shutdown

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are just days away from missing their second paycheck in a row.

January 24, 2019

President Saunders: Labor’s Future is Bright.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders discusses the future of the labor movement and more in this podcast.

January 22, 2019

The Affordable Care Act Is Not Jenga. It’s Not a Game. Period.

The country will suffer – and working people especially so – if higher courts side with a Texas federal judge and rule that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional.

January 18, 2019

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Union Membership Remains Steady

New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show union membership remains strong, proving workers are hungrier than ever for a voice on the job and a seat at the table.

January 09, 2019

AFSCME Supports New York Mayor’s Paid Time Off Proposal

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praises the mandatory time off proposal announced today by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, which will benefit all the workers in the city.

January 03, 2019

Pay Freeze is Latest Way Federal Workers are Left Out in the Cold

This news comes as more than 800,000 federal workers are either furloughed or are being forced to work without pay.

January 02, 2019

AFSCME President Saunders Demands End to Government Shutdown

Many federal workers are facing the frightening prospect of not being able to pay their mortgages, rents, car loans and meet countless other day-to-day obligations.

December 19, 2018

Saunders to Trump: Don’t Shut Down the Government For Political Gain

AFSCME President Lee Saunders to President Donald Trump – don’t shut down the federal government over politics.

December 03, 2018

What Makes a Good Infrastructure Plan?

AFSCME has long encouraged public investment in our country’s infrastructure. In 2019, we will continue to make our voices heard so that any infrastructure plan creates good jobs and invests in public services.

November 28, 2018

GM Layoffs Prove Tax Cuts Hurt, Don’t Help, Workers

Those cuts reduce revenues, creating bigger deficits that Trump and his fellow Republicans use as an excuse to cut public services that working families rely on like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

November 20, 2018

Voting to Keep Public Services in Public Hands

Voters chose to side with the common good in at least two powerful ways: stopping privatization and implementing progressive taxes to pay for much-needed public services.

November 19, 2018

AFSCME Supports Bill Curbing Workplace Violence

The bill would help protect hospital, psychiatric, behavioral health care, EMS workers and others by requiring the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to issue a federal worker-protection standard.

November 16, 2018

AFSCME Sues Puerto Rico to Stop Betrayal of Public Service Workers

Even as public service workers in Puerto Rico made sacrifices, their government was betraying them. This week, AFSCME and AFT sued the government, alleging mismanagement of pension funds.

November 15, 2018

Pay for Latinas Lags Well Behind White Males

Latina women had to work until November 1 of this year to earn the same wages their white male counterparts earned in the previous year. Ten months longer!

November 14, 2018

Public Charge Rule Would Turn American Dream into Nightmare for Millions

A new rule by the Trump administration would subject immigrants to indecency and indignity. It runs counter to AFSCME’s values.

November 13, 2018

AFSCME’s Archives: A Treasure Trove of Labor History

Learn about AFSCME’s archives, a rich lode of labor history.

October 18, 2018

“Junk” Insurance Plans Could Weaken Affordable Care Act Protections

With these junk plans, insurers are permitted to screen for, and charge more for, pre-existing conditions.

October 17, 2018

Unions Push for “Grade A” Paid Parental Leave

The long-term goal is for all workers–union and non-union, public and private sector–to have access to paid family leave.

October 12, 2018

Working People Are Struggling in Trump’s Economy

There is plenty of evidence that this is a strong economy primarily for those already in a privileged position.

Priorities Archive

Paid Parental Leave – Negotiated by Workers For Workers Through Their Unions

Child Care Workers Stand Together for Better Early Education

AFSCME President Calls Trump’s Emergency Declaration ‘An Abuse of Power’

NJ Minimum Wage Will Rise to $15/Hour By 2024

More Proof of a Rigged System

NAACP President: Labor Rights Are Civil Rights

SOTU Response: Invest in Our Communities and Public Services to Strengthen the Nation

AFSCME Supports Bill to Rebuild America’s Schools

Unions Aren’t Going Anywhere

Wanted: A Permanent End to the Government Shutdown

AFSCME Supports Push for $15/Hour Federal Minimum Wage Bill

The Real Story of the Shutdown

President Saunders: Labor’s Future is Bright.

The Affordable Care Act Is Not Jenga. It’s Not a Game. Period.

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Union Membership Remains Steady

AFSCME Supports New York Mayor’s Paid Time Off Proposal

Pay Freeze is Latest Way Federal Workers are Left Out in the Cold

AFSCME President Saunders Demands End to Government Shutdown

Saunders to Trump: Don’t Shut Down the Government For Political Gain

What Makes a Good Infrastructure Plan?

GM Layoffs Prove Tax Cuts Hurt, Don’t Help, Workers

Voting to Keep Public Services in Public Hands

AFSCME Supports Bill Curbing Workplace Violence

AFSCME Sues Puerto Rico to Stop Betrayal of Public Service Workers

Pay for Latinas Lags Well Behind White Males

Public Charge Rule Would Turn American Dream into Nightmare for Millions

AFSCME’s Archives: A Treasure Trove of Labor History

“Junk” Insurance Plans Could Weaken Affordable Care Act Protections

Unions Push for “Grade A” Paid Parental Leave

Working People Are Struggling in Trump’s Economy