News

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at University of Central Florida

Over the past few weeks, the hardworking blue-collar employees of the University of Central Florida represented by AFSCME Local 3345 voted by mail for the recertification of their union.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win for Duval County School Board

Over the past few weeks, the hardworking public service unit of Duval County Public School employees represented by AFSCME voted by mail for the recertification of their union.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win in Town of Surfside

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win in Town of Surfside

Wage preemption, pandemic protection sets labor's 2022 legislative agenda

James Call, Tallahasee Democrat, 12/29/21

AFSCME, an AFL-CIO affiliate that represents public sector workers, will lobby lawmakers to ensure that the $225 million Gov. Ron DeSantis earmarked for a state pay raise in his budget recommendations go towards the lowest paid state workers — not supervisors and higher management. 

AFSCME Florida Members Elect New Officers During Virtual Convention Centering on Worker Organizing

AFSCME Florida Council 79 members held a two-day virtual convention December 10 to 11. The convention was focused on ways the Council’s 58 locals could continue the successful internal and external organizing that has been the hallmark of the last years. Members committed the Council to a robust program of actions to continue the struggle for fair contracts, safe working conditions with respect and dignity for workers.

Raises should be 'for those at the lowest end of the pay scale'

AFSCME, the labor union representing state workers, said it "appreciates" DeSantis recognizing there's been "years of undervaluing" state workers.

But “it is outrageous that some full-time state workers currently qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (or food stamps) even while they administer the program,” according to Vickie Hall, the union president.

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FL is far behind other states when it comes to starting pay for correctional officers

Vicki Hall, president of AFSCME Florida, a labor group, told the Phoenix in an email that the state should also focus on raising pay for other workers in the prison system. Overall, the union is advocating for all “state workers who are currently facing continually rising expenses for food, housing and gas,” Hall said.

Honoring the anniversary of America’s first pay equity strike

Striketober and Strikesgiving are over, but worker strikes are still going strong. As I write this, Kellogg’s workers are holding the line in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Memphis. Alabama miners are heading into their ninth month of standing up to Warrior Met Coal. And the wave of worker actions demonstrating power and the fight for fairness continues to rise.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders joins signing ceremony of historic infrastructure bill

AFSCME President Lee Saunders on Monday joined President Joe Biden and members of his administration, as well as a bipartisan group of lawmakers, for the signing ceremony of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

AFSCME Florida Convention Call

A virtual convention for AFSCME Florida - Council 79 has been scheduled for December 10-11, 2021. The convention will be held virtually and will convene at 1:00 P.M. EST on Friday, December 10, 2021. The virtual convention will continue Saturday, December 11, 2021, beginning at 9:30 A.M. EST, and conclude when the business of the convention is completed.

Congress has finally passed an infrastructure bill. Build Back Better should be next.

The House of Representatives has passed President Joe Biden’s transformational bipartisan infrastructure plan, which Biden will soon sign into law. The passage earned praise from AFSCME President Lee Saunders, who, in a statement, said, “We are turning a corner.”