November 16, 2020 At home for veterans in Michigan, the rewards are subtle but last a lifetime Never Quit Service Award winner Cathy Scott brightens the lives of residents at the Grand Rapids, Mich., Home for Veterans. She’s a member of AFSCME Local 261 (Council 25). Read More
October 26, 2020 L.A.’s Justo Franco: Creating order amid chaos Never Quit Service Award winner Justo Franco kept L.A.’s buses running during the recent protests. Learn what it took for Franco to make that happen. Read More
October 15, 2020 As pandemic ravaged New York City region, this morgue worker refused to quit Mike Vikara, a forensic pathologist assistant for the Nassau County, New York, Medical Examiner, is a winner of AFSCME's Never Quit Service Award. Read More
October 06, 2020 It’s been a year like no other, but don’t tell that to this Oregon emergency manager Erik Rau is an emergency management planner for the state of Oregon who has helped battle fires, floods and a pandemic – all in a single year. Read More
September 28, 2020 When a moment of reckoning becomes a moment of opportunity Never Quit Service Award Winner Carre Adams leads the George Washington Carver Museum through a moment of change. Read More
September 14, 2020 When a trailblazing correctional officer went down the walk at Angola Shirley Coody, an assistant warden at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola and president of AFSCME Local 3056 (Council 17), is a winner of AFSCME's Never Quit Service Award. Read More
July 30, 2020 Connecticut governor issues executive order to protect front-line workers After Council 4 members speak up, Connecticut governor issues an executive order making front-line workers with COVID-19 eligible for worker’s comp coverage. Read More
July 21, 2020 From dial-up to digital, CSEA’s Joe Acampora led the way This Never Quit Service Award winner helped lead a New York community from digital dark ages to the high-tech world of today. Read More
June 24, 2020 ‘The anger is blinding’ DC 37 member and New York paramedic discusses fighting the coronavirus pandemic in a powerful first-person account published by the Washington Post. Read More
June 22, 2020 Though shorthanded, AFSCME members smother wildfire, head off disaster A forest fire got contained quickly thanks to the dedication of AFSCME Michigan members, but short-staffing may lead to tragic results the next time. Read More
June 16, 2020 MN Behavioral Health Members Find Community Online, Build Union Strength Rather than feeling isolated during the coronavirus pandemic., Minnesota’s behavioral health workers are strengthening their union bonds online. Read More
June 11, 2020 Continuing to protect Hawaii from invasive pests during the coronavirus pandemic Hawaii’s plant quarantine inspectors safeguard the state’s unique ecology. Laying them off because of COVID-related funding shortages would harm the environment and the economy. Read More
May 26, 2020 A Life of Service: One Man’s Mission to Put Others First Oregon AFSCME member Michael Stewart volunteered to work in the COVID-19 unit at Oregon Health & Science University. Find out why he felt compelled to raise his hand. Read More
May 22, 2020 ‘Public service workers are … crucial to fighting this pandemic’ Meet a New York City respiratory therapist who was sickened by COVID-19. Read More
May 22, 2020 ‘It’s Like 9/11 Every Day’ A healthy New York City Fire Department EMS lieutenant for 25 years suddenly got sick with COVID-19. This is his story. Read More
May 19, 2020 Pandemic Sparks Awareness of the Importance of Mental Health May is Mental Health Month and the COVID-19 crisis shows that people’s mental health is as important as their physical and economic health. Read More
May 18, 2020 During National EMS Week, Thank First Responders with More Than Words This year, National EMS Week comes amid a national emergency of nearly unprecedented proportions. Just as EMS professionals across the country are rising to the challenge, so must the U.S. Senate. Read More
May 14, 2020 AFSCME Members Recovering From COVID-19 Share Their Stories, Seek State, Local Aid In a press call, AFSCME front-line workers shared stories of suffering with COVID-19 as they highlighted the urgent need for congressional aid. Read More
May 11, 2020 Helping to Bring Babies into the World of COVID-19 In obstetrics, social distancing is just not possible. Hawaii nurse Sharay Souza continues to work diligently, despite her fears of contracting COVID-19. Read More
May 11, 2020 Honoring AFSCME Public Safety Members During Law Enforcement Week Law Enforcement Week is a time to honor the work done by and the sacrifices made by all public safety professionals, especially those who die in the line of duty. Read More
May 08, 2020 Happy Mother’s Day to My AFSCME Mom – My Everyday Hero The daughter of an AFSCME Florida member has a special Mother’s Day message for her mom. Read More
May 07, 2020 Congressional Black Caucus Town Hall on State, Local Aid Features Florida Member, President Saunders An AFSCME Florida member joined African American lawmakers in calling on Congress to provide aid to state and local governments. Read More
May 06, 2020 Despite Scarce Support, NJ Hospital Workers Continue to Protect Patients and Staff New Jersey hospital workers are soldiering on, despite a scarcity of resources, despite some of them contracting COVID-19. Read More
May 06, 2020 Connecticut Nurse and Mother of Two Is All About Her Patients – And Her Boys When Yajaira Perez, a Connecticut nurse and mother of two, is not at work, she is spending time with her two teenage boys. Perez is a winner of AFSCME's Never Quit Service Award. Read More
May 05, 2020 ‘My Job is Dangerous Every Day. But COVID-19 Has Elevated that Threat’ Violence is escalating inside a Connecticut prison, as fear of catching COVID-19 grows among the inmates. Read More
May 05, 2020 Overworked and Underprotected: Ohio Correction Officer Seeks Federal Assistance Inside a Columbus, Ohio, facility, corrections officers are overworked and worried about catching COVID-19. Read More
May 05, 2020 ‘Things Are Beyond a Breaking Point’ Says Ohio CO Infected with COVID-19 What’s it like inside a prison where the coronavirus is running rampant? An Ohio corrections officer who has COVID-19 explains. Read More
April 29, 2020 Helping Ohio’s Unemployed, One Person at a Time Providing an economic lifeline to unemployed Ohioans means working nights and weekends for these two OCSEA members. Read More
April 29, 2020 Furloughed Florida Member Needs More Than Prayer to Survive Shirley Thomas tells her story of economic insecurity and urges federal aid for state and local governments so she could return to serving her community. Read More
April 28, 2020 This Workers Memorial Day, We Honor Those Who Died at Work, Including From COVID-19. On Workers Memorial Day, we honor and mourn those who lost their lives on the job – including from COVID-19. Read More