News

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

AFSCME President Lee Saunders congratulated Nicole Berner, a longtime labor lawyer and general counsel of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), on being 

AFSCME Florida Council 79 President and International VP Vicki Hall released the following statement today following the signing of SB 256:

“Freedom has always been earned from the bottom up. That is why we believe the collective voice of workers will overcome SB 256’s goal of silencing Florida’s dedicated public workers by stripping them of their freedom to speak up collectively and their right to join a union. Make no mistake, today is not the end, it is the start of the next chapter in our fight for justice, equality and freedom at work.

 Adrian Andrews of WFSU interviewed AFSCME Florida's Nat Bender, who pointed out that "while most state workers will see their pay go up, the state is also placing more roadblocks on their ability to join a union. SB 256, a plan to eliminate automatic salary withdrawals for union dues, is moving forward over the objections of public employee unions." 

Bender said, “We believe the intent of it is to discourage union members by procedurally making it more difficult for the members to exercise their freedom to join the union.”

Bills of Interest as of 5/1/23

SB256/HB1445 - Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees by Sen Ingoglia, by Rep Black

Please remember to double check your polling places. Due to legislation, if you did not file again to receive a ballot through the mail you will not receive one. Vote early to avoid any Election Day problems on May 16.