American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is a major trade union in the United States, representing over 1.4 million public sector employees, including workers in health care, education, and public transportation. The organization was founded in 1932 by a group of Wisconsin state employees, including Arnold Zander, and has since grown to become one of the largest and most influential labor unions in the country, with members in all 50 states and affiliations with the AFL-CIO and the International Trade Union Confederation. The organization has been led by prominent figures such as Gerald McEntee and Lee Saunders, who have played key roles in shaping the union's agenda and advocating for the rights of public sector workers, including those employed by New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

● History

The history of the organization dates back to the Great Depression, when public sector employees faced significant challenges, including low wages and limited benefits, as seen in the experiences of workers in Detroit, Michigan, and New Orleans, Louisiana. The organization's early years were marked by struggles to establish itself as a major player in the labor movement, with key events including the 1935 passage of the National Labor Relations Act and the 1955 merger with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The organization has also been involved in several major labor disputes, including the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike and the 1970 New York City teachers' strike, which drew support from prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin. Throughout its history, the organization has been affiliated with other major labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and has worked closely with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union.

● Organization

The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and is led by a president and a board of directors, which includes representatives from various locals and councils, such as the New York City Central Labor Council and the California Labor Federation. The organization is divided into several departments, including collective bargaining, political action, and member benefits, which provide support to members in Boston, Massachusetts, Denver, Colorado, and other cities. The organization also has a number of subsidiaries and affiliates, including the AFSCME Council 13 and the AFSCME Retirees, which serve members in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states. The organization has worked closely with other labor unions, including the United Auto Workers and the United Steelworkers, to advance the interests of public sector workers.

● Membership

The organization represents a diverse range of public sector employees, including nurses and other health care professionals employed by Kaiser Permanente and Veterans Administration hospitals, teachers and education support staff in Los Angeles Unified School District and New York City Department of Education, and public transportation workers in New York City Transit and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The organization also represents employees in corrections and law enforcement, including those working in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and New York City Police Department. Members of the organization are employed by a variety of public sector employers, including federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and National Park Service, state governments such as California State Government and New York State Government, and local governments such as City of Chicago and City of San Francisco. The organization has also worked with other organizations, including the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, to support public sector workers.

● Politics_and_Legislation

The organization is actively involved in politics and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels, with a focus on issues such as collective bargaining rights, pension reform, and health care access, as seen in the organization's support for the Affordable Care Act and Employee Free Choice Act. The organization has endorsed candidates such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and has worked closely with organizations such as the Democratic National Committee and the Progressive Democrats of America. The organization has also been involved in several major advocacy campaigns, including the Fight for $15 and the Campaign for America's Future, which have drawn support from prominent figures such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The organization has worked to influence legislation such as the Taft-Hartley Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act, and has provided testimony to Congress on issues such as public sector pensions and health care reform.

● Collective_Bargaining

The organization is a major player in collective bargaining in the public sector, with a focus on negotiating contracts that provide fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members, as seen in the organization's negotiations with New York City Mayor and Los Angeles Mayor. The organization has negotiated contracts with a variety of public sector employers, including state governments such as California and New York, and local governments such as City of Chicago and City of San Francisco. The organization has also been involved in several major labor disputes, including strikes and lockouts, and has worked to resolve these disputes through arbitration and mediation, with support from organizations such as the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the National Labor Relations Board. The organization has worked closely with other labor unions, including the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to advance the interests of public sector workers.

● Notable_Members_and_Leaders

The organization has a number of notable members and leaders, including Gerald McEntee, who served as president from 1981 to 2012, and Lee Saunders, who has served as president since 2012. Other notable members include Alfred Hansen, who served as secretary-treasurer, and William Lucy, who served as president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. The organization has also been led by prominent figures such as Arnold Zander, who played a key role in the organization's early years, and Jerry Wurf, who served as president from 1964 to 1981. The organization has worked closely with other prominent figures, including Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin, to advance the interests of public sector workers and promote social justice, as seen in the organization's support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Category:Labor unions in the United States