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.
AFSCME Local 1303 and AFSCME Local 818 College Scholarships Now Available
Two of Council 4's union chapters are offering scholarships for the children of members who plan to attend college in 2018-19:AFSCME Local 818, representing municipal supervisory employees throughout Connecticut, will be awarding three $500.00 scholarships this year to...
Local 1303-085 Members in Middletown Mark National Library Workers Day
The staff and administration of Russell Library in Middletown took time out April 10 to mark National Library Workers Day.“There is no better time than National Library Workers Day to salute the contributions of our dedicated employees who make this institution a vibran...
An AFSCME Strong Victory for Injured CT Police Officers
Three years ago, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Police Lt. Paul Grech of AFSCME Local 1159, Council 4 suffered a broken neck on the job when a civilian motorist crashed her car into his city vehicle.“Without surgery, I’d have been in a wheelchair,” the 19-year veteran said ab...
Memphis "I AM 2018" Journey Inspires Correctional Officer
AFSCME Local 1565 member Leighton Vanderburgh was among the thousands of people who marched in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.“It was quite impactfu...
Council 4 Delegates Convention Affirms Fight for Our Freedom
Against a backdrop of legislative and judicial attacks aimed at destroying the rights and freedoms of unionized workers – including the forthcoming Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31 – more than 200 members of affiliated local unions and chapters helpe...
New Contract Boosts New Haven Housing Authority Workers
The power of collective bargaining to improve the lives of union members can be witnessed in New Haven, where the members of AFSCME Local 713, representing clerical and maintenance employees at Elm City Communities/Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH), recently ratifie...
Local 269 Member Ed Hawthorne a Committed Volunteer in Politics
Ed Hawthorne of AFSCME Local 269 (State P-2 Human and Social Services) views political engagement as an absolute necessity for union members in an age of unprecedented legislative and judicial attacks on organized labor.“Unions are our last best hope to save the middle...
Trickster Alert: Anti-Union Forces Coming After Your Privacy and Your Rights
Out-of-state special interests have taken advantage of Connecticut’s Freedom of Information (FOI) laws to exploit your privacy. Funded by anti-worker billionaires, they have sent requests to multiple Connecticut agencies for their employees' names and personal informati...
They're "Re-Membering" To Stick With Their Union
As more Americans realize unions may be their best bet to reverse economic trends that favor the rich and powerful, the labor movement faces relentless attacks from the very forces that benefit the most from economic inequality. Shadowy front groups funded by billionair...
In Memoriam: Lois O'Connor, 1928-2018
We mourn the loss of former Council 4 President Lois O'Connor, a true stalwart in the struggle for labor, civil and women's rights. Lois passed away July 9 at the age of 90.
New Year's Day or Groundhog Day?
During this time of giving and reflection, a new opportunity has emerged to help move toward a more prosperous future for all. Most Connecticut politicians have for the past two years refused to ask millionaires and corporations to pay their fair share to protect and pr...
Janus Vs. AFSCME: Get the Facts, Stay Union Strong
Any day now, the United States Supreme Court will issue a ruling on Janus v. AFSCME Council 31. This lawsuit aims to take away the freedom of public workers to join together in strong unions. When the highest court in the nation heard the case on February 26, the nine j...