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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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? Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
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. Read More
July 01, 2020 176 groups to the U.S. Senate: Pass state, local aid to ‘maintain essential services’ It’s not just AFSCME saying it. A coalition of 176 groups – including our union – has written to the Senate, urgently seeking state and local aid. Read More
July 01, 2020 The Senate should not kick unemployed workers when they are down Unless the U.S. Senate extends a $600 weekly unemployment supplement, workers who lost their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic will see a sharp drop in benefits come Aug. 1. Read More
June 29, 2020 AFSCME Local 4041 members file unfair labor practice complaint against State of Nevada Nevada’s governor is unilaterally trying to lay off state workers and AFSCME Local 4041 members are having none of it. Read More
June 24, 2020 ‘The anger is blinding’ DC 37 member and New York paramedic discusses fighting the coronavirus pandemic in a powerful first-person account published by the Washington Post. Read More
June 24, 2020 KY poll shows overwhelming support for federal aid to states, cities, towns A new AFSCME poll shows Kentucky voters overwhelmingly want Congress to provide aid to Kentucky’s state and local governments and maintain public services. Read More
June 23, 2020 Alaska public service workers call for federal aid to keep communities safe The U.S. Senate is getting an urgent, bipartisan request from state workers and lawmakers in Alaska – please provide state and local aid like the House has. Read More
June 17, 2020 Workers caravan brings together thousands to demand bold action from Congress More than a thousand union members traveled to the nation’s capital to demand bold action resolve the crises facing our nation. Similar rallies were held nationwide. Read More
June 16, 2020 Nevada AFSCME members speak out on budget changes AFSCME Local 4041 members are speaking out against the governor’s plan to furlough Nevada state employees. Read More
June 16, 2020 MN Behavioral Health Members Find Community Online, Build Union Strength Rather than feeling isolated during the coronavirus pandemic., Minnesota’s behavioral health workers are strengthening their union bonds online. Read More
June 12, 2020 Biden: ‘AFSCME workers are holding this country together right now’ During a tele-town hall, Vice President Joe Biden joined AFSCME President Lee Saunders and AFSCME members to discuss recovery amid the pandemic and ways to tackle longstanding institutional racism. Read More
June 11, 2020 Continuing to protect Hawaii from invasive pests during the coronavirus pandemic Hawaii’s plant quarantine inspectors safeguard the state’s unique ecology. Laying them off because of COVID-related funding shortages would harm the environment and the economy. Read More
June 09, 2020 HOPE members avert layoffs, seek Houston leaders’ support for state, local aid request HOPE Local 123 members have averted thousands of layoffs in Houston and got some support from the Houston City Council to get state, local aid from Congress. Read More
June 08, 2020 Saunders joins AFSCME Maryland caravan to call on state leaders for justice, action Honoring George Floyd and holding Gov. Larry Hogan accountable were the aims of a car caravan organized by AFSCME Maryland at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. Read More
June 01, 2020 Economists with Diverse Views Agree: Federal Aid to States, Cities, Towns Is Needed Now Economists who would disagree on policies found common ground on one thing – Congress needs to provide state, local aid. Read More
June 01, 2020 Saunders joins Families USA in calling for more federal aid, Medicaid funding AFSCME President Lee Saunders joined health care advocates in urging Congress to provide more federal aid to states, cities and towns – including expanding Medicaid. Read More
May 29, 2020 Kentuckians Call for Robust Federal Aid Kentucky’s leaders and dedicated public service workers called for urgent, direct federal aid to save their state and their communities. Read More
May 28, 2020 NV Senators, Front-Line Workers Call for State, Local Aid Nevada’s U.S. senators and AFSCME Local 4041 members agree – it’s high time the Senate passes a federal aid package to states, cities and towns. Read More
May 28, 2020 A fiscal tsunami is headed for states, cities, towns. Why is the Senate still not acting? States, cities and towns need help fast but the U.S. Senate refuses to act. Why? Read More
May 22, 2020 ‘It’s Like 9/11 Every Day’ A healthy New York City Fire Department EMS lieutenant for 25 years suddenly got sick with COVID-19. This is his story. Read More