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AFSCME Florida Statement on Recertification Win in Town of Surfside

“John Passidomo was an accomplished attorney, a civic leader and guiding light to Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and their entire family.

In his first days on the job, President Joe Biden has taken swift executive action to protect and empower public service workers, strengthen public services and help working people. On his first day alone, he signed 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations that showed the kind of bold leadership our country needs now.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders called the victories of the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia’s Senate runoff elections “a bold mandate for change.”

On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, Hawlen Ebanks, a veteran state employee at Sunland Center in Marianna drove in to work on her 85th day straight without a day off — and her eighth day in a row of 16 hour shifts. As the thoroughly exhausted Mrs. Ebanks entered the grounds of the Sunland facility, she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a tree.

Here’s a crucial reason for working people to do all they can to help Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock win the Georgia Senate runoff elections in January – federal aid to states, cities, towns and schools.

If Ossoff and Warnock prevail, there will be a pro-worker majority in the U.S. Senate. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as president of the Senate, will cast the tie-breaking vote when the chamber is deadlocked.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice president-elect Kamala Harris on Monday brought together business and union leaders, including AFSCME President Lee Saunders, for a virtual meeting to discuss an economic recovery agenda for the country.

Following the meeting, Biden warned of a “dark winter” ahead for the nation and highlighted consensus among the labor leaders and CEOs alike on the need to fund the front lines.

It was bad enough that the Trump administration failed miserably in its response to the coronavirus pandemic, ignoring the science and failing to come up with a national strategy.

It was pathetic and tragic when Republicans in Congress failed to summon the courage to support the everyday heroes who saved our communities by funding the front lines.

With so much at stake for working families in the 2020 election, AFSCME members across the country stood up to the challenge once again. Although the pandemic prevented us from putting thousands of boots on the ground as we normally do, AFSCME members still made a huge difference in key races across the country.

As of this writing, the next President of the United State has not been announced but we do know that more people have voted in this election than any election in US history. That's HUGE! Until EVERY VOTE is counted, this election will not be decided. Politicians can say what they want but it's the will of the voters who declare the winner. AFSCME has always stood for fairness --- in the workplace and in politics. It's "We the People" that decide what's best for our country. In the midst of this chaos, we must stay calm and continue to stand up and fight for a better future for working families.