Environmental Stewardship Archive

October 16, 2023

Massachusetts park rangers win Never Quit award for heroic response to State House fire

Four Massachusetts park rangers who responded heroically to a fire at the State House are the latest winners of AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award.

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June 01, 2023

Geologists rock: Celebrating our rock and mineral scientists in natural resources

Protecting Ohio’s natural and mineral resources is OCSEA members Brittany Parrick’s job – and she rocks.

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April 21, 2023

On Earth Day, celebrating AFSCME members in green jobs

Earth Day is Saturday and we thank AFSCME members who work to protect the environment.

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October 17, 2022

A son of Queens, New York, teaches his community about the natural world

Our latest Never Quit Service Award winner, DC 37’s Harry Aguilar, teaches the Queens community he grew up in about the natural world.

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July 05, 2022

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program wipes out Ohio member’s $40,000 debt

Ohio Council 8 member Aaron Crane got $40,000 in student loans wiped out thanks to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

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October 27, 2021

Houston’s green building expert ‘lives and breathes his job’

Steve Stelzer, Houston’s green building expert, is a winner of AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award.

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October 22, 2021

An AFSCME member survives a bear attack while on the job

An AFSCME member in Alaska was surveying salmon when a bear attacked him. He lived because of his co-worker’s quick action.

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June 03, 2021

King Conservation District staff union unanimously ratifies first contract

Discover the many reasons why King County conservation workers in Washington state formed a union

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March 03, 2021

Puerto Rico’s Mona Island security officers file complaints with the state

Council 95 members who work on Mona Island have filed a complaint citing unsafe and inhumane working conditions.

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June 22, 2020

Though shorthanded, AFSCME members smother wildfire, head off disaster

A forest fire got contained quickly thanks to the dedication of AFSCME Michigan members, but short-staffing may lead to tragic results the next time.

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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.

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September 17, 2018

NY Lifeguards, Supervisors Post Five-Year Safety Record

It takes preparation, teamwork and diligence to achieve a safety record of this magnitude and duration, said Local 508 Lifeguard Supervisors President Peter Stein.

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October 24, 2017

Cool Job: Protecting Florida’s Underwater Treasures

If you’ve ever visited the Florida Keys, and spent any time off of dry land, then you’ve visited the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We tell you about a member who protects this fragile ecosystem.

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June 26, 2017

Applying the Pressure to Keep FL Members Employed

AFSCME members who proudly work at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens are making a strong case to Miami-Dade County commissioners that they must remain county workers after the South Florida tourist landmark gets new ownership.

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March 03, 2017

Cool Job: Protecting Florida’s Underwater Treasures

If you’ve ever visited the Florida Keys, and spent any time off of dry land, then you’ve visited the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. We tell you about a member who protects this fragile ecosystem.

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July 18, 2016

What’s Your Story?

Jeremy Sanders, a senior animal keeper at the Bronx Zoo and president of AFSCME Local 1501 (DC 37), was one of the first delegates to share his story at the Storyline booth.

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June 30, 2016

Community Support Boosts Maui Lifeguards in Win for Fair Contract

Lifeguards in Maui County, Hawaii, won a fair contract, but It took a public campaign by HGEA members to achieve their victory.

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April 07, 2016

Sodexo Workers Catch Up with Jacksonville Pact

For AFSCME Local 1328 members, their AFSCME Strong training was put to the test recently when it came to helping a subset of their coworkers to a contract win.

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January 15, 2016

Park Worker Comes to Rescue of Slashed Officer

New York City Parks worker Joanna Zeno, a member of DC 37, pursued a suspect in an attack at a park and helped police arrest her.

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June 19, 2015

Lori Cutshall: Volunteer Extraordinaire

Lori Cutshall, president of AFSCME Local 2523 in Pennsylvania, embodies what the Jefferson Awards Foundation calls an “unsung hero” – a volunteer or paid professional who goes “well beyond their expected duties” to help out in their local community.

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