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 Madison, Wisconsin, in 1932, AFSCME represents over 1.3 million public sector employees and retirees, encompassing roles such as health care workers, corrections officers, sanitation workers, police officers, firefighters, and childcare providers.

History

AFSCME was formed during the Great Depression as an effort to promote, defend, and enhance the civil service system. Initially, it was part of the Wisconsin State Employees Union and received a charter from the American Federation of Labor (AFL) in 1936. The union's early growth was slow, focusing primarily on lobbying for stronger civil service laws. By the end of 1936, AFSCME had approximately 10,000 members, growing to about 73,000 by 1946.

In the 1950s, AFSCME's composition changed with the addition of many blue-collar workers, particularly following the 1955 merger with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). This merger introduced a strong emphasis on collective bargaining as a means to improve working conditions. By 1955, membership had surpassed 100,000.

Leadership and Structure

AFSCME is divided into approximately 3,400 local unions across 46 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, one of the two main labor federations in the United States. AFSCME's leadership has played a crucial role in its growth and advocacy. Its presidents have included Arnold Zander, Jerry Wurf, Gerald W. McEntee, and Lee Saunders.

Advocacy and Political Involvement

AFSCME is known for its political activism, often supporting the Democratic Party and advocating for issues such as single-payer health care, pension benefits protection, minimum wage increases, preventing government job privatization, and expanding unemployment benefits. Following the Citizens United decision in 2010, AFSCME was among the first groups to leverage new campaign financing rules to support political candidates directly.

Membership and Growth

AFSCME's membership has grown significantly over the years, driven by aggressive organizing and changes in collective bargaining laws. By the early 21st century, AFSCME's membership exceeded 1 million. Its growth has continued despite declining enrollments in many other American unions. Today, AFSCME is recognized as one of the fastest-growing unions in the country.

See Also

• AFL-CIO
• Public sector
• Collective bargaining

References

This article is based on information from AFSCME International and historical accounts of the labor movement in the United States.

[1] https://www.oregonafscme.org/history [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Federation_of_State,_County_and_Municipal_Employees [3] https://www.umass.edu/local1776/Flyers,%20Updates%20&%20Documents_files/History%20of%20AFSCME.htm [4] https://afscme2384.com/afscme-history [5] https://www.britannica.com/topic/American-Federation-of-State-County-and-Municipal-Employees