News

This is our blog and press releases.

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

Improve child nutrition programs without delay, AFSCME tells Congress

The White House’s recent announcement that it will hold the first conference on hunger, nutrition and health in more than half a century on Sept. 28 shines a light on another glaring issue – Congress has failed to update federal child nutrition programs in a decade.

As workers organize from coast to coast, approval of labor unions continues to rise

Graph of the Gallup poll.

As workers continue to organize throughout the country – from cultural institutions to 

Student debt relief plan to put a big dent in college debt crisis, help working people

Millions of Americans saddled with crushing student loans got welcome news today from President Joe Biden, who announced a groundbreaking policy that will go a long way in combating the college debt crisis in this country.

Biden announced that his administration will forgive up to $10,000 of college debt for low- and middle-class borrowers who did not receive Pell Grants to attend college, and up to $20,000 for those who received Pell Grants.

A union voice can help address burnout among health care workers nationwide

The COVID-19 pandemic arrived at a time when our nation’s health care workers were already experiencing burnout. The National Academy of Medicine, in a report from 2019, said that 35% to 54% of nurses and physicians in the United States had “substantial symptoms of burnout.”

Then things got worse.

AFSCME Members, Family Members Awarded 2022 Union Plus Scholarships

Congratulations are in order for the 27 AFSCME Union Plus Scholarship winners. They are:

AFSCME members honor Mental Health Awareness Month, reflect on changing industry

CJ Alicandro (left) is pictured with a few of their colleagues. Photo credit: AFSCME Council 75.

CJ Alicandro (left) is pictured with a few of their colleagues. Photo credit: AFSCME Council 75.

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.

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).