CHICAGO – AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders today announced that, even in the face of attacks from anti-worker politicians, billionaires and judges across the country (including the United States Supreme Court), AFSCME gained more than 90,000 new members during the past six months.
AFSCME nearly doubled the goal set in early January 2014 when the union launched its “50,000 Stronger” organizing campaign.
“Today, we are 92,155 members stronger, with new members from EMTs to home care workers, and we will continue our fight for the middle class and the future of this country,” Saunders said.
“Our opponents want to deplete the labor movement of resources, steal our power and silence our voices. They are even undercutting the most fundamental right we have as Americans: the right to vote. Yet, no matter the challenges that face us, the answer remains the same: Organize. Organize. Organize. ”
Included in the 90,000-plus new members are more than 20,000 home care workers, who were the target of the National Right to Work Committee funded lawsuit, Harris v. Quinn, which was recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. These caregivers joined AFSCME to protect quality care for children, seniors and people with disabilities.
Saunders announced the organizing victories during his keynote address on the first day of the union’s 41st International Convention.
“Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court undermined the freedom of home care workers and child care workers. But if anybody thinks we’re giving up because things got harder, they are wrong,” Saunders declared.
Blowing Past Goal of Becoming #50KStronger, AFSCME Adds More Than 90K New Members http://t.co/hcx3m6lHqo #1u pic.twitter.com/Y6k77Z9wIr
— AFSCME (@AFSCME) July 14, 2014
Unions are no more that strong arm hiding places for employes to worthless to keep a job on their own merit.
Sounds like the people knocking the unions here need to stand up and be a man and fight for the same benefits instead of bitching about people who have them. Also the problem with Illinois and their pension plan was not due to the Unions but instead the politicians who didn’t fund them like they were suppose to. Just like social security the politicians stoled from it to pay for other things.
@RU-that is because the real people who work for a living got tired of their taxes being raised to pay for those deadbeats.
Thanks for the information, I think that I’ll look for a job that has an AFSCME union. Sounds like they get real good pay and lots of benefits. I’m tired of this go no where $7.00 hr. burger flipping job anyway…
Illinois has enough problems without more unions. That is the problem with the state right now. They can’t pay their bills on anything.
If this is the public servant workers union then watch for your taxes to go up = can’t fire one of these people and they get raises EVERY YEAR PLUS CUSHY BENEFITS – HEALTH CARE AND NICE RETIREMENTS UNLIKE THE PRIVATE SECTOR – BY THE WAY MOST PRIVATE SECTOR UNIONS HAVE BEEN GONE FOR YEARS. NO NEED TO HELP THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
Well its about time workers realize they cant trust companies to treat them fair. Ceo’s have lawyers represent them in negotiations and the average worker needs a Union to represent their best interest.