News

Federal funding to help vulnerable Americans in danger of getting cut

Federal money for programs and services that help millions of vulnerable Americans and employ many AFSCME members could be in jeopardy next year.

American Red Cross workers, including AFSCME members, rally for fair contract

American Red Cross (ARC) workers, including many AFSCME members, are rallying this week in cities nationwide to fight back against mistreatment from their employer and demand a fair contract. The protests are being held in Washington; Lansing, Michigan; Peoria, Illinois; Hartford, Connecticut; Pomona, California; and San Diego.

In Memoriam: Council 4 Service Rep Steve Curran, 1963-2022

The Council 4 union family is grieving the untimely death of Steve Curran, a beloved service representative who fought tenaciously for our members and dedicated an extraordinary amount of his time and energy to supporting military veterans and rehabilitating rescue dogs.

Steve died April 29 at Yale New Haven Hospital due to complications from a stroke that he suffered on April 10. He was 58.

Overlooked by management during the pandemic, Red Cross workers fight for a fair contract

They collect, protect and deliver our nation’s blood supply, yet the almost 3,000 American Red Cross workers are not being paid what they deserve, lack the staff to do their jobs effectively, face cuts to their health care and, over the course of the pandemic, have often gone without pay and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Historic SEBAC agreement is voted favorably out of the Senate floor

Following the bipartisan majority vote in the House Thursday, we are proud to see the Senate successfully vote for the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) contract.

Council 4 Announces 2022 Education Scholarships

To recognize the extraordinary efforts of our members and to foster unionism, Council 4 is offering continuing education assistance in the form of a $2,000 per year scholarship for up to four years (max $8,000) to dependents of Council 4 members and retirees.  Each year, the Council 4 Scholarship Committee will select two students to award a $2,000 scholarship that will be paid to the school of the winners.  Winners are eligible for up to four consecutive years by doing a brief presentation to the executive board.

Biden administration extends pause on student loan repayment

Good news for federal student loan borrowers: This month, the Biden administration again extended the pause on student debt repayment – this time through Aug. 31.

Education Scholarships

COUNCIL 4 EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

To recognize the extraordinary efforts of our members and to foster unionism, Council 4 is offering continuing education assistance in the form of a $2,000 per year scholarship for up to four years (max $8,000) to dependents of Council 4 members and retirees. 

Each year, the Council 4 Scholarship Committee selects two students to award a $2,000 scholarship paid to the school of the winners.  Winners are eligible for up to four consecutive years by doing a brief presentation to the executive board.

Unions, allies release critiques of Yankee Institute

Opponents of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy released two reports last week exposing the right-wing think tank's malevolent anti-union motivations and shadowy funding sources.

Recovery For All — a statewide coalition of 58 community, labor and faith organizations, including Council 4 AFSCME — convened a virtual press conference April 6 with leaders from the state legislature, clergy, community groups and labor organizations to announce the release of two new reports critiquing the Hartford-based Yankee Institute.