AFSCME

AFSCME
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees · Public domain · source
Name	American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Founded	1932
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Location	United States
Members	1.4 million
Country	United States

AFSCME is a major American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) affiliate with over 1.4 million members, including employees of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. The union represents a wide range of public service employees, including National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences workers, United States Environmental Protection Agency staff, and National Park Service employees. Gerald McEntee, a former president of the union, played a key role in shaping its policies and direction, often working closely with other prominent labor leaders like John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO and Richard Trumka of the United Mine Workers of America. The union's activities have been influenced by various events, including the Great Depression, World War II, and the Civil Rights Movement, which involved notable figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks.

● History

The union was founded in 1932 by a group of Wisconsin state employees, including Arnold Zander, who would later become its first president. The early history of the union was marked by struggles for recognition and collective bargaining rights, with key milestones including the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 and the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which were signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The union's growth was also influenced by the New Deal policies of Roosevelt and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which was led by John L. Lewis and included unions like the United Mine Workers of America and the United Steelworkers. The union's history has been shaped by its relationships with other organizations, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the League of Women Voters, as well as events like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery Marches.

● Organization

The union is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is divided into over 3,400 local unions, which are grouped into 58 councils and affiliates, including the California State Employees Association and the New York State Public Employees Federation. The union's structure is designed to provide support and resources to its members, who work in a wide range of fields, including health care, education, and public safety, and are employed by organizations like the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The union's organization has been influenced by its relationships with other labor organizations, including the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), as well as events like the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Flint Sit-Down Strike.

● Membership

The union represents a diverse range of public service employees, including nurses and other health care workers, teachers and other education employees, and police officers and other public safety personnel, who work for organizations like the New York City Department of Education, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Chicago Fire Department. The union's membership has been influenced by demographic trends, including the growing diversity of the United States workforce, which has been shaped by events like the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and has involved notable figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The union's members are employed by a wide range of organizations, including federal agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as state and local governments, like the State of California and the City of New York.

● Politics_and_Legislation

The union is actively involved in politics and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels, often working closely with other labor organizations and advocacy groups, like the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, and the ACLU. The union has been a strong supporter of progressive policies and candidates, including President Barack Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders, and has been involved in various political campaigns and elections, including the 2012 United States presidential election and the 2018 United States midterm elections. The union's political activities have been shaped by its relationships with other organizations, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the Republican National Committee (RNC), and the Libertarian Party, as well as events like the Watergate scandal and the Iran-Contra affair.

● Notable_Events

The union has been involved in several notable events and labor disputes over the years, including the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike, which was led by Martin Luther King Jr. and involved African American workers who were employed by the City of Memphis, and the 2011 Wisconsin protests, which were sparked by Governor Scott Walker's efforts to limit collective bargaining rights for public employees. The union has also been involved in various social justice and community organizing efforts, including the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-apartheid movement, which involved notable figures like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. The union's activities have been influenced by its relationships with other organizations, including the NAACP, the ACLU, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), as well as events like the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and the Selma to Montgomery Marches.

● Leadership

The union is led by a president and a board of directors, which includes representatives from various local unions and councils, like the California State Employees Association and the New York State Public Employees Federation. The union's leadership has been shaped by its relationships with other labor organizations and advocacy groups, like the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, and the ACLU, as well as events like the Lawrence Textile Strike and the Flint Sit-Down Strike. The union's current president is Lee Saunders, who has been a strong advocate for workers' rights and social justice, and has worked closely with other prominent labor leaders like Richard Trumka and Mary Kay Henry. The union's leadership has also been influenced by notable figures like Gerald McEntee and John Sweeney, who have played key roles in shaping its policies and direction.