News

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at City of Miami Gardens

Today, the members of one of the newest AFSCME locals, Miami Gardens, voted 90% in favor of recertifying their union.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at City of Oakland Park

Today, after weeks of mail-in voting, the members and workers represented by AFSCME Local 2526 voted overwhelmingly to recertify their union.

AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win at New College of Florida

Today the hardworking men and women represented by AFSCME at New College of Florida voted 100% unanimously in favor of recertifying their union with a nearly 75% turnout.

Got Student Debt? New Guidelines For Forgiveness

The PSLF Program is a federal loan debt relief program. Unlike Income Driven Repayment (IDR) plans, PSLF is not a payment plan. Rather, it is a separate program that incentivizes a career in the public service by forgiving the remaining balance on a federal loan after 10 years (or 120 payments) under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time in the public service.

AFSCME mourns the loss of a beloved member of our union family, Mildred Wurf

AFSCME mourns the loss of Mildred Wurf, a beloved member of our union family, a pioneering District Council 37 educator and the widow of former AFSCME president, Jerry Wurf. Mildred Wurf died on Dec. 29 at the age of 95.

Retirees Step Up Candidate Education at Start of Critical Election Year

The ringing in of a new year brings with it the start of a critical campaign cycle. While the candidates and pundits have been hard at work for months, most Floridians are just now tuning in. And the candidates themselves are increasing their efforts to connect with voters and learn about the issues on their minds.

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.