On the eve of Saturday’s Nevada Democratic primary caucuses, AFSCME members and retirees gathered at a Las Vegas restaurant to hear one last time from presidential candidates on the issues that matter most to working families.
At Doña Maria Tamales Restaurant, Nevada public service workers and retirees, members of AFSCME Local 4041 and Chapter 4041, respectively, heard from candidates and their surrogates about a future in which Donald Trump is no longer president of the United States and Washington finally makes progress on the priorities of the middle class.
From crushing student loan debt to prescription drug affordability, AFSCME members and retirees sought clarity on the candidates’ positions a day before casting their votes. Topics also included securing the right to collective bargain for public service workers across the nation; fighting climate change; undoing the Trump tax cuts that benefitted the wealthy and corporations at the expense of working families; protecting Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security; improving the nation’s infrastructure; preserving LGBTQ rights; and more.
The forum, hosted by AFSCME President Lee Saunders, welcomed former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and philanthropist Tom Steyer, as well as surrogates for the campaigns of former Vice President Joe Biden, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, who signed a bill last year giving collective bargaining rights to state workers, was another guest.
Saunders encouraged AFSCME members and retirees to continue to make their voices heard, including by running to serve as delegates to the Democratic National Convention, to be held in July in Milwaukee.
“When we have a candidate, let’s work like hell, as we do. Let’s organize and mobilize and educate our members, our communities and our families,” Saunders said. “Let’s win in November.”
Local 4041 President Harry Schiffman said, “We cannot take another four years of Republican leadership. It’s time for us as working people to stand up and take our country back.”
