State & Local Budgets | Page 1 | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

October 30, 2020

Harris urges union members to vote, show their power

Sen. Kamala Harris joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and AFT President Randi Weingarten in a tele-town hall Thursday night to urge people to vote.

October 29, 2020

CA child care providers hold candlelight vigils to draw attention to COVID-19 impact

As child care locations shutter due to COVID-19, providers across California hold candlelight vigils to draw attention to the crisis.

October 28, 2020

Syracuse, N.Y., unions avoid layoffs, negotiate across-the-board furloughs instead

To avoid layoffs and make furloughs more equitable for workers, the City of Syracuse, N.Y., and unions came up with a compromise plan to cope with COVID-19-related revenue losses.

October 23, 2020

In final debate, Biden offers unity, clear path forward

In the final presidential debate, Joe Biden promised to fund the front lines, offering a vision of unity and a comprehensive path forward.

October 21, 2020

Senate’s ‘skinny’ COVID-19 relief bill is just a ‘ploy,’ says Saunders

The Senate’s “skinny” COVID-19 relief bill is “a ploy,” says AFSCME President Lee Saunders.

October 07, 2020

Ending state, local aid negotiations shows depth of Trump’s ‘callousness and cruelty’

Ending talks on providing state, local aid is a cruel move by Donald Trump, AFSCME president says.

October 01, 2020

California family child care providers sound the alarm on a system in crisis

Providers in California are asking the governor to resolve a growing crisis in the state’s child care system.

September 24, 2020

In San Antonio, AFSCME members win victory against layoffs

AFSCME members in San Antonio fought to avoid layoffs and furloughs due to the pandemic.

September 23, 2020

Federal coronavirus relief aid to states, cities and towns is best return on investment, CBO says

A new CBO report shows that federal coronavirus relief aid to states, cities and towns represents the best return on investment, since it increases GDP by about 89 cents for every dollar that it adds to the deficit.

September 18, 2020

EPI report highlights Trump’s failures on coronavirus and need for state and local aid

A new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) highlights the Trump administration's failed response to the pandemic and the need for state and local aid.

September 17, 2020

As schools reopen, employees take on more responsibility as they face lack of federal support

As a new school year begins during the pandemic, we also need a new leader in the White House.

September 10, 2020

Misguided coronavirus ‘relief’ bill fails in the Senate

The Senate rejected a coronavirus “relief” bill that was really about providing cover to vulnerable Republican politicians, not about helping working people.

September 08, 2020

Rochester school employees rally against layoffs among essential workers

The school district cited the financial strain of the pandemic and a lack of federal stimulus funding as the reason for the proposed cuts.

August 28, 2020

Voters in another state – Ohio – strongly support federal aid to states, cities, towns, schools

Ohio voters of all political stripes overwhelmingly want Congress to provide federal aid to struggling states, cities, towns and schools, according to a new poll.

August 06, 2020

Labor leaders join their voices together to call on Senate to pass Heroes Act

Labor leaders jointly called on the Senate to pass the House-approved Heroes Act, which includes nearly $1 trillion in federal aid to states, cities and towns.

July 29, 2020

Voters in seven key states express strong support for $1 trillion in state and local aid

In new polls, voters in seven states express strong support for $1 trillion in state and local aid. And the support cuts across partisan lines.

July 28, 2020

AFSCME President: GOP coronavirus relief bill ‘spectacularly fails to meet the moment’

The Republican coronavirus relief bill introduced this week “spectacularly fails to meet the moment,” AFSCME President Lee Saunders says.

July 27, 2020

New national ads urge Senate to prevent ‘painful cuts to essential public services’

New AFSCME ads urging the Senate to provide federal aid are going national today.

July 24, 2020

The power of a union: Nevada state worker mobilization makes the difference

AFSCME members in Nevada mobilized against Gov. Steve Sisolak proposed furloughs, merit pay freezes and layoffs – and won. That’s the power of a union.

July 24, 2020

Arizona poll shows overwhelming support for federal aid to states, cities, towns, schools

A new poll of Arizona voters shows overwhelming, bipartisan support – 75% – for federal aid to struggling states, cities, towns and school districts.

July 23, 2020

Retirees urged to call the Senate demanding federal aid to states, localities

A former Ohio governor and AFSCME President Lee Saunders asked AFSCME Retirees to call the Senate and demand aid for states and localities.

July 22, 2020

AFSCME joins Pennsylvania Sen. Casey in calling for federal aid to states, cities and towns

AFSCME joined Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey today to push Senate Republicans to approve at least $1 trillion in federal aid to states, cities and towns.

July 17, 2020

Schumer joins AFSCME in calling for at least $1 trillion in federal aid to states, cities and towns

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and AFSCME members in calling on Republicans in the Senate to agree to at least $1 trillion in federal aid to states, cities and towns.

July 17, 2020

Bold Federal Aid Needed Now, Says Former Fed Chair Bernanke

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says that bold federal aid is urgently needed to save the economy and fight the pandemic.

July 14, 2020

Will Washington invest in billionaires or the rest of us?

The president of an AFSCME affiliate explains why cutting public services and the workers that provide them in a bad idea, especially during a pandemic.

July 14, 2020

Vast majority of Republicans in swing states support the virus aid McConnell is blocking

Even Republicans agree that the Senate should help struggling states and localities. Why doesn’t Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell?

July 10, 2020

AFSCME Maryland prevails in fight against governor’s public service cuts

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan proposed cutting public service jobs and pay using the pandemic as a pretext. But AFSCME members were having none of it.

July 09, 2020

Pelosi joins AFSCME in calling for state, local aid amid soaring virus cases

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and front-line public service workers in calling on the Senate to approve at least $1 trillion in flexible aid to states, cities and towns.

July 08, 2020

AFSCME members pressure Senate to act on aid to states, cities and towns

During an AFSCME tele-town hall, President Lee Saunders and AFSCME members called on their union family to pressure their U.S. senators to approve aid to states, cities and towns.

July 07, 2020

State workers in Florida get first raise in 12 years

The public service workers who are keeping Florida running during this global pandemic finally got a 3% raise – their first in a dozen years.

State & Local Budgets Archive

Harris urges union members to vote, show their power

CA child care providers hold candlelight vigils to draw attention to COVID-19 impact

Syracuse, N.Y., unions avoid layoffs, negotiate across-the-board furloughs instead

In final debate, Biden offers unity, clear path forward

Senate’s ‘skinny’ COVID-19 relief bill is just a ‘ploy,’ says Saunders

Ending state, local aid negotiations shows depth of Trump’s ‘callousness and cruelty’

California family child care providers sound the alarm on a system in crisis

In San Antonio, AFSCME members win victory against layoffs

Federal coronavirus relief aid to states, cities and towns is best return on investment, CBO says

EPI report highlights Trump’s failures on coronavirus and need for state and local aid

As schools reopen, employees take on more responsibility as they face lack of federal support

Misguided coronavirus ‘relief’ bill fails in the Senate

Rochester school employees rally against layoffs among essential workers

Voters in another state – Ohio – strongly support federal aid to states, cities, towns, schools

Labor leaders join their voices together to call on Senate to pass Heroes Act

Voters in seven key states express strong support for $1 trillion in state and local aid

AFSCME President: GOP coronavirus relief bill ‘spectacularly fails to meet the moment’

New national ads urge Senate to prevent ‘painful cuts to essential public services’

The power of a union: Nevada state worker mobilization makes the difference

Arizona poll shows overwhelming support for federal aid to states, cities, towns, schools

Retirees urged to call the Senate demanding federal aid to states, localities

AFSCME joins Pennsylvania Sen. Casey in calling for federal aid to states, cities and towns

Schumer joins AFSCME in calling for at least $1 trillion in federal aid to states, cities and towns

Bold Federal Aid Needed Now, Says Former Fed Chair Bernanke

Will Washington invest in billionaires or the rest of us?

Vast majority of Republicans in swing states support the virus aid McConnell is blocking

AFSCME Maryland prevails in fight against governor’s public service cuts

Pelosi joins AFSCME in calling for state, local aid amid soaring virus cases

AFSCME members pressure Senate to act on aid to states, cities and towns

State workers in Florida get first raise in 12 years