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.
In state capitols and all the way to the Supreme Court, wealthy and powerful interests want to silence our voice and take away our freedoms. To fight back, we must lead with our values. We must stand up to say proudly who AFSCME is and what we stand for.
AFSCME Florida executive director Andy Madtes released the following statement on the GOP tax plan released today. AFSCME Florida will mobilize members, retirees and allies to put pressure on Congressional members from both parties to reject this plan:
When working people have the freedom to come together in strong unions, entire communities benefit. Unions give everyday working people the power in numbers they need to make their communities safer and stronger, and they are critical to fixing an economy rigged in favor of the rich and powerful.
Whether it’s EMS workers negotiating for better staff ratios that decrease emergency response times, or teachers speaking up together for smaller class sizes, this report underscores that strong unions are needed now more than ever.
This summer, the members of AFSCME Local 1363 decided it was time to breathe new life into their union. They came together to plot a new path forward so they could strengthen AFSCME’s voice for the workers within Miami-Dade County’s Jackson Health System and improve services to the community.
When Irma slammed into south Florida in September, a Miami 311 operator named Lorraine Brown fielded calls throughout the weekend, talking to anxious people and making sure their requests were routed appropriately. "I'm not leaving until maybe Monday at the earliest," Brown said. With access to showers and food, she and her colleagues didn't see the need to go home. "We can sleep later," she added.
The U.S. Supreme Court today accepted a case called Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, which would make the entire public sector “right-to-work” in one fell swoop.
Janus – which the nation’s highest court will take up in the October 2017-June 2018 term – is a blatantly political and well-funded plot to use the highest court in the land to further rig the economic rules against everyday working people.
Across this state, public employees worked countless hours preparing their towns, schools and communities for Hurricane Irma. We worked double shifts in hospitals, slept in conference rooms or at desks and we never quit on our neighbors. We hope you and your family are safe but many of us are in need of assistance, big and small. This sheet contains some information that may help. In no way is this a complete list but hopefully at least a starting point as we rebuild our state. Please know that your union is standing here with you because, like you, we never quit.
