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.

State Workers Call for Resources, Compassion and Flexibility With Rep. Crist

State management has been showing precious little compassion and care by disregarding public health measures which would safeguard the general public and workers, AFSCME Florida President Vicki Hall and members detailed for U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-13) on September 28. 

“It is a slap in the face to all state, county and municipal workers who are putting their lives on the line every day,” said President Hall during a statewide Zoom meeting with  the former governor.

The union difference: Greatest wealth gains are for Black and Hispanic union households

We’ve said it before: Life is better in a union. 

Workers who belong to unions make more money than their nonunion counterparts. They have better health care insurance and retirement plans, more job security and safer working conditions. They’re happier.

Newly Hired School Custodians Join Local At Training

With several hundred new custodians to Miami-Dade County Public Schools participating in training on everything from safety to how to manage their benefits, AFSCME Local 1184 members, along with AFSCME Florida staff, made sure the workers were welcomed and urged to join their union on Friday, October 15. Local 1184 President Phyllis LeFlore told the new employees that the first thing she did 36 years ago when starting to work for the district was to become an active member. At least 16 followed LeFlore’s lead that day and joined the union.

New contract recognizes the work of South Florida members throughout the pandemic

When contract negotiations started last fall, Jackson Health System workers had weathered multiple surges of COVID-19.

The hardworking front-line staff of South Florida’s largest public safety-net health system were hopeful that their next Local 1363 (AFSCME Florida) contract would recognize how they pulled together to serve their community even when patients levels were high and staffing levels were battered by infections, burnout and more.

It did.

Why Raising the Wage Matters

Unions, worker justice organizations, labor-friendly elected officials and even representatives of the Poor People's Economic Campaign rallied Thursday, September 30, in Miami  to celebrate the voter-approved increase in the state's minimum wage. Janice Coakley, President of Local 3293 in North Miami Beach represented AFSCME Florida to recognize the importance of the measure, which will continue increases over the next several years:

Report: Cultural institutions took federal money but still let go of workers

Some of the nation’s largest cultural institutions accepted more than $1.6 billion in federal help to weather the coronavirus pandemic, but continued to let go of workers – even though the assistance was meant to shore up payrolls and keep workers on the job, according to a report released by AFSCME Cultural Workers United.

AFSCME members honored during Community Change event

Photo portrait of Mr. Alpha Bufford

Alpha Bufford.

Editorial: Florida’s state workers deserve more information about COVID infections

Following the explosive story by Lawrence Mower on the lack of transparency for state workers concerning COVID-19 exposure, the editorial board for Florida's largest newspaper weighed in.