News

Biden forgives student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers

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

Believe It or Not, Congress Seeks More Tax Cuts for the Rich

At a time when our country needs real investments in infrastructure, education and public services, congressional leaders are doubling down on tax cuts for the rich.

A Decade Later: Four Ways Working People Are Still Paying for the 2008 Financial Crisis

It was 10 years ago this month that the 2008 financial crisis kicked into high gear. When storied Wall Street bank Lehman Brothers shut down, bankers walking out of the building carrying cardboard boxes of their possessions made the perfect image for TV cameras.

Schedule of Remaining 2018 Regional President's Meetings

Don’t Like Wealth Inequality? Join a Union

We Are AFSCME

No politician running for office today would openly advocate for more wealth inequality in our country, where the richest 1 percent of the population owns 40 percent of the wealth. Even candidate Donald Trump in 2016 promised to stand up for the “forgotten men and women of our country,” who feel betrayed by a rigged economic system that benefits a small minority at their expense. Yet every single day, President Trump and congressional leaders seem determined to do more to increase wealth inequality than to alleviate it; do more for corporations and the wealthy than for single parents working two or three jobs to make ends meet.

Brett Kavanaugh: No R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Women’s and Workers’ Rights

Like others around the world, I mourned the death last week of Aretha Franklin. The Queen of Soul set a new standard for enduring classic songs with both artistic and political impact, like her mega-hit “Respect,” which became an anthem for both the civil rights and women’s movements.

And that song is on my mind as we embark on a week of action dedicated to shining light on the stakes for women in the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

IMPORTANT: State Contract Update

On August 16, 2018, AFSCME Council 63 notified the State of New Jersey that the state contract was overwhelmingly ratified by the AFSCME membership.

We are working with the state on a payment schedule that will be posted as soon as possible. To ensure you're getting updates from AFSCME New Jersey as they happen, please click here to update your member information.

Janus Decision has galvanized union members, not destroyed them

Just days after the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Janus v. AFSCME, Mike Messner and his executive board set out on a mission to increase their union membership.

Messner, the president of Local 888 Rutgers University, and executive board member Jodi Virgilio have since turned in more than 6 dozen new member signups in the month following the decision.

The Janus decision allows public employees to stop paying partial union dues, while still being covered under the union-negotiated contract, if they don’t want to be a member of the union. 

A Seat at the Table for EMS Workers in Prescott, Arizona

Empty table with copies of Local 2960's final contract

Photo Credit: Local 2960