The following is adapted from remarks delivered by President Saunders at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor’s Martin Luther King Day Breakfast on January 14, 2023.
Union family, it’s a great honor to spend this special day with you, as we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as we reflect on his sacrifice and recommit to his work.
Thanks to efforts by the Biden administration and AFSCME, many public service workers, including AFSCME members, have seen their student loans forgiven under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Many AFSCME members work in high-stress fields such as public safety, health care, emergency medical services and firefighting. Their jobs have become even more stressful since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many of these workers to put their and their families’ well-being at risk while serving their communities.
But when these everyday heroes face mental health issues as a result of the high-stress environment and duties that expose them to trauma, they are often expected to deal with such challenges on their own.
The contributions of public service workers can often go unnoticed by their employers. However, on Oct. 1, the City of San Diego held an event to honor the hard-working employees that keep the City going.
But under the leadership of the Biden administration and this Congress, we are turning a corner. There have been unprecedented investments in public services and public service jobs. Millions will see the price of life-saving prescription drugs come down. Millions more will receive relief from unfair student debt. And the wealthy are finally starting to pay their fair share.
To be sure, there is more work to be done. But if we continue this progress, we will have many more reasons to be optimistic about the future.
Faced with the management’s refusal to remedy unfair labor practices and address workers’ major priorities during contract negotiations, AFSCME Local 397 (District Council 47) – the Philadelphia Museum of Art Union (PMAU) – began a museum-wide strike Monday.
This week, AFSCME Local 127 visited its bargaining unit members in the Parks & Recreation and Environmental Services Departments. Specifically, Local 127 set up shop at Rose Canyon, Montgomery-Waller Community Park, the Landfill, and Miramar. At each worksite, Local 127 provided its members with shirts, food, and Bargaining Surveys. Additionally, Local 127 passed out membership cards and New Employee Orientation flyers to its non-members and to those still undecided about whether to join it.
