April 04, 2025 The lessons of Memphis apply to our fight for worker protections The 1968 battle for civil rights and today’s fight for worker safety share similarities. Read More
August 22, 2024 Memphis-area employees celebrate across-the-board pay raises and bonuses Memphis city workers are finally getting much-needed pay raises and bonuses. Read More
April 04, 2024 Dr. King’s last campaign was an AFSCME campaign Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final campaign was in support of striking AFSCME sanitation workers 56 years ago. Read More
January 03, 2024 Elmore Nickleberry, Memphis sanitation worker who went on strike in 1968, dies at 92 Elmore Nickleberry, AFSCME sanitation worker and participant in historic 1968 Memphis strike, has died at age 92. Read More
April 18, 2023 Third episode of the I AM Story podcast focuses on Dr. King The I AM Story podcast’s third episode is now live. Download it today. Read More
April 11, 2023 ‘I AM Story’ podcast: Episode 2 is now available The second episode of the “I AM Story” podcast is now live and available for download. Read More
April 04, 2023 AFSCME launches ‘I AM Story’ podcast AFSCME launches the first episode of its “I AM Story” podcast. Read More
February 17, 2023 Saunders promotes upcoming AFSCME podcast about the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike AFSCME President Lee Saunders promotes the I AM podcast in a new column. Read More
February 13, 2023 Exclusive ‘I AM’ podcast launching in April AFSCME will launch the “I AM Story" podcast in April, chronicling the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike. Read More
February 11, 2022 Big pay hikes for corrections workers in a TN county will close longstanding wage gap Long-overdue raises will close a yawning pay gap for corrections workers in Shelby County, Tennessee. Read More
May 19, 2021 Labor secretary visits with Sanitation Strike participants Watch the highlights video of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh’s visit to AFSCME Local 1733 in Memphis, Tennessee. Read More
April 23, 2021 Memphis city employees fight for modest pay raises after year of sacrifices AFSCME Local 1733 workers are fighting for modest pay raises that are long overdue. But the city of Memphis, Tennessee, says no – even though it has the money to pay them. Read More
August 30, 2019 Remembering Brother Baxter Leach, A 1968 Memphis Sanitation Striker We celebrate the life of Brother Baxter Leach, a 1968 Memphis sanitation striker, who remained a labor and civil rights activist until his death this week. Read More
April 04, 2019 We Carry on Dr. King’s Fight We honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by carrying on his fight, 51 years after he paid the ultimate price. Read More
September 19, 2018 A Busy Summer for AFSCME Retirees AFSCME retirees founded three new chapters this summer – in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Memphis, Tennessee. Read More
April 06, 2018 The Week of I AM Commemorations Thousands marched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and the Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation workers’ strike. Read More
April 05, 2018 ‘I AM 2018’ Rally Participants Urged to Continue Dr. King’s Struggle Thousands marched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and the Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation workers’ strike. Read More
April 04, 2018 AFSCME in Memphis: I AM 2018 is Call to Action to “Reach the Promised Land” On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Mountaintop” speech, AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders echoed King’s words on the struggle for racial and economic justice. Read More
April 02, 2018 A Historic Week’s Events Commemorate the Tragedy and Triumph of 50 Years Ago This week’s Mountaintop Conference will be a celebration and commemoration of labor and civil rights history. Read More
February 22, 2018 Black History Month: Bill Lucy Remembers ’68 Strike As part of Black History Month, former AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy shared a firsthand account of 1968 strike. Read More
February 01, 2018 Memories of Memphis An AFSCME member who participated in the 1968 Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation workers’ strike vividly recalls the events of that seminal moment in our nation’s history. Read More
January 31, 2018 Join the Nationwide Moment of Silence Cities across the country observe a moment of silence on February 1, honoring AFSCME sanitation workers and their historic strike. Read More
September 22, 2017 In Memoriam: Alvin Turner, Memphis Sanitation Worker and Labor Hero AFSCME mourns the passing of Alvin Turner, 83, a participant in the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike and member of AFSCME Local 1733. Read More
August 30, 2017 Church Tied to AFSCME and Civil Rights History Now a National Landmark A historic Memphis church with ties to the Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation strike of 1968 – part of AFSCME’s history – has been designated a national landmark. Read More