Worker and Family Support | Page 1 | American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

October 26, 2023

Her mission is to make life safer for victims of domestic violence

Kirsha Haverlah, a member of AFSCME Local 1624 in Travis County, Texas, is the latest winner of our union’s Never Quit Service Award.

April 19, 2023

CO social worker: ‘Our kids are getting left behind because of the staffing crisis’

Colorado AFSCME member Heather Burke, a social caseworker, loves making a difference in her community, but is struggling with heavier caseloads.

June 22, 2022

Never Quit winner is California social services worker who helped solve a kidnapping

Diana Corral, an employment eligibility specialist with the Orange County, California, Social Services Agency, and president of AFSCME Local 2076 (Council 36), is a winner of our union’s Never Quit Service Award.

January 13, 2022

We mourn the death of sister Deidre Silas, Illinois DCFS investigator

Rest in power, Sister Deidre Silas. The AFSCME member in Illinois was killed on the job.

October 20, 2021

Milwaukee Public Schools secretaries win hazard pay as organizing effort continues

Strong and united, school personnel in Milwaukee fought to win hazard pay.

September 27, 2021

‘She always shows up’: Never Quit winner advocates for survivors of sexual violence

Cheyenne Garstad, an advocate coordinator who supports survivors of sexual violence in Middlesex County, New Jersey, is a winner of AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award.

September 16, 2021

AFSCME member who helps struggling families joins calls for wealthy to pay fair share in taxes

Kanika Jones, a Head Start case worker in Phoenix and member of AFSCME Local 2960, added her voice to a growing chorus calling for higher taxes on the wealthy.

July 27, 2021

Child care providers ratify historic first contract with state of California

CCPU members have overwhelmingly ratified their historic first contract with the state of California.

July 12, 2021

Never Quit winner is hard at work fulfilling a childhood mission

Learn why Heather Burke, a social caseworker with Adams County, Colorado, is the latest winner of AFSCME’s Never Quit Service Award.

June 22, 2021

AFSCME child care provider joins calls to protect American Rescue Plan funds

Miren Algorri, an AFSCME child care provider from California, joined a chorus of voices pushing back against attempts to raid the American Rescue Plan.

May 26, 2021

After braving the pandemic, Miami-Dade school employees brace for the fall

Miami-Dade schools Local 1184 President Phyllis Leflore reflects on the pandemic and plans for the future.

October 07, 2020

Joe Biden’s economic leadership is inspiring AFSCME members to vote

Joe Biden’s tax policies will benefit working people. Donald Trump’s tax policies benefit himself and his corporate buddies.

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.

April 29, 2020

Helping Ohio’s Unemployed, One Person at a Time

Providing an economic lifeline to unemployed Ohioans means working nights and weekends for these two OCSEA members.

April 27, 2020

NE Members Speak Out for Better Protections, Clearer Guidelines During Pandemic

Facing a lack of action from their governor, NAPE members organize petition effort to demand protections.

April 24, 2020

COVID-19 is Not Slowing Down Foster Care, Adoption Services in Adams County, CO

Once the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, AFSCME members in Adams County, Colorado, expect an increase in child abuse reports.

April 13, 2020

Meet an AFSCME Member Offering Comfort to People Losing Jobs

You know which front-line workers have become heroes of late? Unemployment claims professionals like Jason Suggs of Maryland.

April 09, 2020

UI Claims Processors Offer Hope, But Sustaining That Work Requires More Aid

An AFSCME member and AFSCME President Lee Saunders joined others in pushing for more state and local assistance from Congress.

April 08, 2020

‘We’re Doing Our Best, But It Feels Like We’re Using Chicken Wire and Zip Ties’

Even in paradise, the coronavirus is a problem. Hawaii Child/adult protective services specialist Kalani Motta describes the challenges he faces in doing his job.

April 07, 2020

Bayou State Blues: Members Slammed While Processing Record Unemployment Claims

Louisiana members handling unemployment claims are seeing a huge spike in cases as the Bayou State economy crumbles.

March 27, 2020

Helping Out-of-Work Nevadans File for Unemployment is How She Serves Her State

This Nevada member is helping out-of-work Nevadans pay their bills, put food on their table.

September 09, 2019

States Passing Much-Needed Paid Leave Laws

In the absence of a federal law, states and D.C. are taking the lead in passing much-needed paid leave policies.

September 06, 2019

Council 3 Demands Action on Staffing Crisis after Summer of No Answers

Maryland members are demanding solutions to a widespread state worker staffing crisis from Gov. Larry Hogan and the legislature.

May 23, 2018

How the Plaintiff in Janus v. AFSCME Benefits from His Union

Mark Janus, the plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME case, benefits from his union. So what convinced Mr. Janus to join this destructive lawsuit?

May 23, 2018

128 Oregon Workers Say Yes to AFSCME

A total of 128 Oregon behavioral health workers say yes to AFSCME.

February 13, 2018

We Mourn the Passing of Sister Pamela Knight

We mourn the loss of Sister Pamela Knight, a child protection investigator for the state of Illinois. The Council 31 member died after being attacked while doing her job.

October 19, 2017

California Governor Signs Slew of AFSCME-Backed Bills

Standing strong for communities through AFSCME, public service workers in California implemented legislative changes to benefit employees and the Californians they serve.

October 04, 2017

IL Child Protection Investigator Attacked on the Job

An Illinois child protection investigator, and a member of Council 31, was brutally attacked on the job and is in a coma.

August 01, 2017

Foster Home Shortage Hurting Kids, Workers in MN

AFSCME-represented child protection workers in Minnesota are finding it harder to place abused and neglected children in foster homes — even as the number of kids in the foster care system keeps going up.

June 01, 2017

AFSCME Raises Alarm Over IT Outsourcing in OH

OCSEA is raising public awareness about the state of Ohio’s increased outsourcing for information technology services.

Worker and Family Support Archive

Her mission is to make life safer for victims of domestic violence

CO social worker: ‘Our kids are getting left behind because of the staffing crisis’

Never Quit winner is California social services worker who helped solve a kidnapping

We mourn the death of sister Deidre Silas, Illinois DCFS investigator

Milwaukee Public Schools secretaries win hazard pay as organizing effort continues

‘She always shows up’: Never Quit winner advocates for survivors of sexual violence

AFSCME member who helps struggling families joins calls for wealthy to pay fair share in taxes

Child care providers ratify historic first contract with state of California

Never Quit winner is hard at work fulfilling a childhood mission

AFSCME child care provider joins calls to protect American Rescue Plan funds

After braving the pandemic, Miami-Dade school employees brace for the fall

Joe Biden’s economic leadership is inspiring AFSCME members to vote

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

Helping Ohio’s Unemployed, One Person at a Time

NE Members Speak Out for Better Protections, Clearer Guidelines During Pandemic

COVID-19 is Not Slowing Down Foster Care, Adoption Services in Adams County, CO

Meet an AFSCME Member Offering Comfort to People Losing Jobs

UI Claims Processors Offer Hope, But Sustaining That Work Requires More Aid

‘We’re Doing Our Best, But It Feels Like We’re Using Chicken Wire and Zip Ties’

Bayou State Blues: Members Slammed While Processing Record Unemployment Claims

Helping Out-of-Work Nevadans File for Unemployment is How She Serves Her State

States Passing Much-Needed Paid Leave Laws

Council 3 Demands Action on Staffing Crisis after Summer of No Answers

How the Plaintiff in Janus v. AFSCME Benefits from His Union

128 Oregon Workers Say Yes to AFSCME

We Mourn the Passing of Sister Pamela Knight

California Governor Signs Slew of AFSCME-Backed Bills

IL Child Protection Investigator Attacked on the Job

Foster Home Shortage Hurting Kids, Workers in MN

AFSCME Raises Alarm Over IT Outsourcing in OH