News

We Are Going Union!

A Super Majority of Workers from Dignity Health in Merced, California voted to form their union with AFSCME Council 57, Local 2703 today! 

Study Finds Unions Reduce Risk of Poverty

The benefits of belonging to a union are well-known. Better wages. Better health care. The promise of a secure and dignified retirement. A voice on the job, and much more.

But did you also know that belonging to a union may reduce the risk of poverty?

According to a new study, not only does belonging to a union (or being in a family with a union member) mean you’re less likely to fall into poverty, but even living in a state with high union density decreases your likelihood of experiencing poverty.

Juneteenth Declared a Holiday for All East Bay Parks, Thanks to a Member’s Thought-Provoking Petition

If you’re looking for an example of how the labor movement and community organizations fighting for racial justice can work together, look no further than our brothers and sisters of AFSCME Local 2428.

Through a yearlong effort that started with one member’s online petition, Local 2428 and other community activists got the the East Bay Regional Park District, for the first time, to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday.

19 California Labor Unions Pledge to Fight for Union Jobs, Equitable Transition for Fossil Fuel Workers

On a press call Thursday morning, 19 California labor unions—including AFSCME Council 57—joined economist Dr. Robert Pollin to release a new study examining California’s pathways to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic recession and the prospects for jobs growth under the state’s existing climate policies.

The United Steelworkers Local 675 also shared plans for budget advocacy to finance an Equitable Transition.

Member Slain in San Jose Shooting Planned To Take His Kids to Disneyland Over Memorial Day Weekend

Paul Megia wasn't supposed to come into the office last week.

His plan was to work remotely, help with his children's online distance learning and have breakfast with his father on Wednesday.

But Megia left for work early that day, skipping breakfast with his father.

“He wasn’t even supposed to be at work. He was supposed to work at home,” Leonard Megia, Paul's father, told news reporters.

Help Us Mourn the Loss of Our Union Brothers in San Jose

I wish I had better news for you today. But the mass shooting in San Jose yesterday was one of the toughest days of my career, and now the tragedy has hit home.

Our Response to the Mass Shooting at VTA

We are all deeply saddened by the mass shooting that took place today at a Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) facility in San Jose.

The VTA is a public agency staffed by essential workers, where many union members work, including those from our own AFSCME family.

It is a tragedy any time violence happens at the workplace. But this shooting hits close to home because the victims are our union sisters and brothers.

Burlingame Skilled Nursing Members Call Out Brius for Stealing $150K in Wages from Low-Wage Workers

AFSCME Local 829 filed a wage theft complaint against Brius on Monday, claiming that the company has stolen more than $150,000 from dozens of essential workers who have been providing care to some of the community's most vulnerable patients.

Earlier this year, more than 150 brave members at the Burlingame Skilled Nursing Facility went on strike to call out the unfair labor practices being used by management at Brius as COVID-19 swept through the facility.

To honor those who died on the job, give every worker a voice in the workplace

Workers Memorial Day 2021 arrives at a moment of the greatest urgency, when the front lines of the war against COVID-19 run through America’s workplaces.