AFSCME NEWS

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to the Virginia General Assembly rejecting the substitute bill submitted by Gov. Abigail Spanberger gutting Senate Bill 378 and House Bill 1263: “The Virginia legislature did the right thing today. More than half a million public service workers have waited long enough for a voice on the job and a seat at the table. “When Governor Spanberger's substitute threatened to gut those rights, le

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement on the resignation of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer: “Secretary Chavez-DeRemer’s tenure was a failure for working people – from neglecting to move forward with a nationwide heat standard that would save lives to directly attacking workers’ collective bargaining rights, pay and benefits. But let’s be clear: replacing her with Acting Secretary Sonderling won’t help workers if the policies don’t c

WASHINGTON – On National Library Workers Day, observed April 21, we celebrate the critical role library workers play in enriching our communities and providing a safe space for anyone who walks through their doors. AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement to celebrate the day: “Library workers are the fuel that keeps our nation’s libraries running. The services they provide go far beyond the bookshelves, helping people find jobs, start businesses, contin

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement urging Virginia lawmakers to reject the substitute bill submitted by Gov. Abigail Spanberger gutting Senate Bill 378 and House Bill 1263, legislation which granted collective bargaining freedoms to state government employees and enhanced bargaining rights for employees of local governments in Virginia: “AFSCME members worked tirelessly with pro-worker lawmakers in the General Assembly to pass legislat

WASHINGTON – National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12-18, recognizes the dedication of 911 dispatchers who play a crucial role in public safety, bravely serving as the first line of response for their communities in times of crisis. This week also serves as a reminder that 911 dispatchers are still not federally classified as public safety professionals, which is why Congress must pass the Enhancing First Response Act. This critical bipartisan legislat

As National Library Week Approaches, Settlement Puts an End to the Administration’s Attempt to Dismantle Federal Agency, Preserves Critical Public Resources Washington, D.C. – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) — the nation’s largest union of cultural workers — and the American Library Association (ALA) — the largest library association in the world — have reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that protects t

Preliminary Injunction Restores Critical Support for Working Families, Child Care Providers, and Small Businesses San Francisco — A federal court has granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful freeze of more than $10 billion in child care and family assistance funding, restoring critical support for working families, providers, and small businesses across the country. The order in AFSCME v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FULL D.C. NO KINGS RALLY D.C. community members marched to defend their jobs, their freedoms and our democracyfrom an administration that seeks to seize control of the capital city, interfere in our elections, silence working people and make life unaffordable. WASHINGTON – On Saturday, March 28, thousands of people gathered in the nation’s capital to rally and march as part of the national “No Kings” day of action, which saw simultaneous nonviolent mas

Trump-Vance Administration’s Abrupt Termination of the Grants Would Disrupt Those Programs and Put Hundreds of Public Health Jobs at Risk Chicago — The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and its Illinois affiliate, AFSCME Council 31, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s directive ordering the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in critical public health grants administered by the Centers for

WASHINGTON – In a major victory for federal workers, this weekend, D.C. federal judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake had illegally served as Acting CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the agency overseeing Voice of America (VOA). The Court, granting a motion for summary judgment filed by labor unions, Press Freedom Organizations, editors and journalists, ruled that the actions taken by Lake since March of 2025 are legally void. That includes the Aug

WASHINGTON – Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and a coalition of unions and labor federations — including American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and AFGE Local 1923 — today filed a consolidated and updated legal challenge to Schedule Policy/Career, the Trump-Vance administration’s executiv

As anti-worker billionaires make life unaffordable, cut public services, undermine state & local budgets, & attack workers’ freedoms, state & local workers are organizing with AFSCME to fight for better wages, safety on the job and strong public services. WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual numbers on union membership and earnings showed once again the power of the union difference. According to the report, union membership is growing, fueled largely by an inc

Saunders energized AFSCME's activist culture, leaving it on strong footing for the future WASHINGTON – After 14 years as president and a lifetime of service to working people and the labor movement, AFSCME President Lee Saunders has announced his decision to retire from his role as International President. Lee Saunders has devoted his career to expanding the power of public service workers across the country. He came to AFSCME in 1978 as a labor economist and quickly rose th

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Trump administration moved to eliminate the Merit Systems Protection Board, an independent agency that reviews federal workers’ appeals to mass firings: “Taking away an independent appeals board and forcing federal workers to plead their case to the same authority that fired them is blatantly rigging the system. The administration’s ongoing efforts to eliminate unbiased review of public serv

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Trump administration issued a new rule removing civil service protections from tens of thousands of federal workers, making it easier to fire them: “This is an outrageous effort to replace dedicated, expert civil servants with political minions who will push the administration’s extreme anti-worker agenda. The public service workers who keep our farmers secure, our airways clear, and our com

Coalition of Unions, Non-Profits, and Local Governments File Challenge to DHS’ Attempts to Decimate FEMA’s Workforce SAN FRANCISCO – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and a broad coalition of labor organizations, nonprofit groups, and local governments filed a supplemental complaint Tuesday challenging the unlawful and drastic reduction

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement on the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minnesota member of the American Federation of Government Employees: “AFSCME members are heartbroken and outraged by the senseless killing of our fellow union member Alex Jeffrey Pretti. Alex was a true public servant who took care of our nation’s veterans in the VA intensive care unit. The thoughts and prayers of AFSCME members nationwide are with Alex’s family during

Trump-Vance Administration Continues Pattern of Illegally Weaponizing Government Funding Against Perceived Political Opponents San Francisco, Calif. – Two of the nation’s largest unions of public employees and child care providers, AFSCME and SEIU, and a small business advocacy group have united to challenge more than $10 billion in transparently partisan political cuts to programs that help provide child care and family assistance in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota

Disclosures Reveal New Lack of Compliance, Depths of Corruption and Malfeasance Plaintiffs Demand Confirmation That No Records Have Been Destroyed Baltimore, Md. – After a bombshell filing in federal court made by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), wherein DOJ admitted to multiple inaccuracies and misrepresentations it made to federal courts in a case challenging the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees’ access to Americans’ personal Social Securi

WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits and prevent a massive premium hike on millions of people: “The cost-of-living crisis is an unaffordable and unsustainable reality for millions of people, and it’s getting worse. Thankfully, pro-worker lawmakers in the House voted today to restore the Affordable Care Act premium credits – a lifeline helping ten