News

Biden forgives student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers

AFSCME President Lee Saunders praised the White House’s announcement Thursday that the Biden administration will forgive student loans for an additional 78,000 borrowers — including many AFSCME mem

A Message of Thanks to Council 4 Members for Being Everyday Heroes

Dear Council 4 Members:

We are approaching the end of a year like no other. Since early March, COVID-19 has brought havoc to our lives and to our jobs. We have had to make massive readjustments in order to keep our families and communities safe.  

Another reason to involve yourself in the GA Senate runoffs – funding for front-line heroes

Here’s a crucial reason for working people to do all they can to help Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock win the Georgia Senate runoff elections in January – federal aid to states, cities, towns and schools.

If Ossoff and Warnock prevail, there will be a pro-worker majority in the U.S. Senate. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as president of the Senate, will cast the tie-breaking vote when the chamber is deadlocked.

Facing an ‘economic battering,’ Congress must fund the front lines

An article in today’s New York Times describes the grim future ahead for states, cities, towns and schools if Congress fails to fund the front lines. It also echoes what AFSCME has been saying since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic: funding the front lines isn’t a red state or blue state issue. It’s a national imperative.

Council 4 Holiday Spirit and Giving Activities For 2020

The holiday season is upon us. Recognizing that COVID-19 has made this a long a difficult year, our union has organized the following events in the spirit of giving and celebrating family:

Catch Our Latest Council 4 Unplugged Podcast

On our latest Council 4 Unplugged podcast, we discuss the statewide election and worker-focused policy priorities for the next legislative session. Our guests include two new legislators, State Representatives-Elect Kate Farrar (West Hartford) and Mike DiGiovancarlo (Waterbury), as well as Council 4 Political and Legislative Coordinators, Brian Anderson and Zak Leavy.

Biden: Union, business leaders agree that funding the front lines is ‘urgent’

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice president-elect Kamala Harris on Monday brought together business and union leaders, including AFSCME President Lee Saunders, for a virtual meeting to discuss an economic recovery agenda for the country.

Following the meeting, Biden warned of a “dark winter” ahead for the nation and highlighted consensus among the labor leaders and CEOs alike on the need to fund the front lines.

In the middle of a pandemic, Trump threatens health care for millions of Americans

It was bad enough that the Trump administration failed miserably in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, ignoring the science and failing to come up with a national strategy.

It was pathetic and tragic when Republicans in Congress failed to summon the courage to support the everyday heroes who saved our communities by funding the front lines.

AFSCME sues to protect health workers from COVID-19, flu, Ebola

SAN FRANCISCO – AFSCME and three other unions are taking the Trump administration to court to protect health care workers from getting infected on the job by COVID-19 and other dangerous diseases like the flu and Ebola.