American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

AFSCME
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Founded1932 (1932)
Headquarters1625 L St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20003
Location
Members
1,321,600 (2021)[1]
Key people
Lee Saunders (president)
AffiliationsAFL–CIO
Websiteafscme.org

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest trade union of public employees in the United States.[2] It represents 1.3 million[1] public sector employees and retirees, including health care workers, corrections officers, sanitation workers, police officers, firefighters,[3] and childcare providers.[4][5] Founded in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1932, AFSCME is part of the AFL–CIO, one of the two main labor federations in the United States. AFSCME has had four presidents since its founding.

The union is known for its involvement in political campaigns, almost exclusively with the Democratic Party.[6] AFSCME was one of the first groups to take advantage of the 2010 Citizens United decision, which allowed unions and corporations to directly finance ads that expressly call for the election or defeat of a candidate.[7][8] Major political issues for AFSCME include single-payer health care, protecting pension benefits, increasing the minimum wage, preventing the privatization of government jobs, and expanding unemployment benefits.[5]

AFSCME is divided into approximately 3,400 local unions in 46 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.[9]

  1. ^ a b US Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. File number 000-289. (Search) Report submitted March 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Lewis, Charles (August 9, 2000). "Cloud of corruption around Democrats' union patron". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ ""Brooklyn Park Firefighters Go Union" AFSCME Council 5 website; February 19, 2014". Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Gold, Matea (September 10, 2014). "Scott Walker targeted in fall union offensive". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b "American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME)". FactCheck.org. Annenberg Center for Public Policy. June 27, 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  6. ^ Steven Greenhouse, "Afscme Chief to Step Down After 30 Years", New York Times, 3 November 2011.
  7. ^ "American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)". FactCheck.org. Annenberg Public Policy Center. September 18, 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  8. ^ Khimm, Suzy (June 7, 2010). "Politics → Dark Money The Citizens United Effect". Mother Jones. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  9. ^ "About AFSCME". AFSCME. Retrieved 25 February 2015.