American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest trade union of public employees in the United States. Founded in 1932 in Madison, Wisconsin, AFSCME is part of the AFL–CIO, one of the two main labor federations in the country.

History

AFSCME arose during the Great Depression with the objective of protecting civil service jobs and fighting against the implementation of a political patronage system. Initially known as the Wisconsin State Employees Association (WSEA), it was formed by a group of white-collar, professional state employees aiming to promote and defend the civil service system. By 1935, similar employee associations had emerged in 19 states, and at the American Federation of Labor (AFL) convention, the group was made a "department" of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). In 1936, AFSCME was granted a separate AFL charter, with Arnold Zander becoming its first International president.

Membership and Activities

AFSCME represents over 1.3 million public sector employees and retirees across the United States, including healthcare workers, corrections officers, sanitation workers, police officers, firefighters, and childcare providers. The union is divided into approximately 3,400 local unions in 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

AFSCME focuses on political campaigns, particularly supporting the Democratic Party. It advocates for significant social and economic policies such as single-payer healthcare, pension benefits, minimum wage increases, and preventing privatization of government jobs. The union's archives are housed at the Walter P. Reuther Library in Detroit, Michigan.

Key Milestones

• 1936: AFSCME receives its AFL charter.
• 1947: Eight states pass laws penalizing striking public workers; the Taft-Hartley Act restricts private-sector unions.
• 1955: AFL and CIO merge; AFSCME membership surpasses 100,000.
• 1961: President John Kennedy issues Executive Order 10988, legitimizing collective bargaining for federal employees.
• 1964: Jerry Wurf becomes the union's second president, emphasizing aggressive organizing and collective bargaining rights.
• 1990: AFSCME membership tops 1.2 million.
• 2001: The largest single year of organizing in three decades occurs.

Presidents

AFSCME has had four presidents since its inception. Currently, Lee Saunders serves as the union's president, continuing the tradition of advocating for public sector employees' rights and welfare.