The Latest Breaking News from AFSCME

Michigan Democrats seek to repeal law prohibiting public employees from being required to pay union fees

Fifty-one Democratic members of the Michigan House of Representatives and all 20 Democratic senators are sponsoring companion bills that would repeal a section of law prohibiting public employees from being required to pay union fees. 

Ballotpedia · Feb 10, 2023

Lightfoot denies reneging on 12-week parental leave promise to Chicago Teachers Union

“I want this to be a policy of not only the city of Chicago but of sister agencies. But it has to be done through the collective bargaining process,” the mayor said Wednesday.

Chicago Sun-Times · Jan 18, 2023

Faculty at Art Institute’s school aligns with AFSCME

Adjunct professors and lecturers voted overwhelmingly to join AFSCME, adding to the union’s winning streak in recent elections.

Chicago Sun-Times · Dec 13, 2022

Union Station: Alaska Supreme Court hears arguments on whether Janus requires annual opt-ins for union membership

The Alaska Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a case where the state of Alaska claims that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME requires annual opt-ins for union membership.

Ballotpedia · Oct 21, 2022

Union Station: U.S. Supreme Court begins 2022-2023 term with seven petitions to review public-sector union cases

The Supreme Court’s next term will begin on Monday, Oct. 3. As of Sept. 29, appellants had filed seven petitions for writs of certiorari—requests for the Supreme Court to review a lower court’s ruling—in public-sector union cases we’re tracking. The Supreme Court began considering petitions for this term on Wednesday,…

Ballotpedia · Sep 30, 2022

Union Station: Appellate courts issue rulings in three public-sector union lawsuits

Two three-judge appellate panels, one from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and one from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, issued rulings in three lawsuits involving public-sector union fees or dues in the past week. 

Ballotpedia · Sep 23, 2022

Newberry Library workers go public with union organizing campaign

The employees seek an affiliation with Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 15, 2022

A California union president sent $25 gift cards to members. An uproar and reprimand followed

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Five months ago, members of AFSCME Local 2620, the union representing therapists and social workers in California state government, received preloaded $25 debit cards in the mail.

Tribune News Service · Aug 2, 2022

‘Workers are winning’: Colorado law hailed as important victory for public sector workers

Thousands of municipal workers have won the right to form unions but law stops short of allowing them to strike

The Guardian - US · Jun 12, 2022

Union Station: Pennsylvania judge says state fair share fees law is unconstitutional

 Judge Leonard G. Brown III of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas said in an order issued on May 23 that Pennsylvania’s Fair Share Fee Law is unconstitutional under the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. Brown’s order does not overturn the Pennsylvania law. 

Ballotpedia · Jun 3, 2022