Press Releases

  • AFSCME’s Saunders on SEIU joining the AFL-CIO: Together, we will usher in a new era of union power

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after it was announced that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will be joining the AFL-CIO: “AFSCME is proud to welcome our longtime ally and…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: Finally, GPO-WEP is gone for good

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after President Joe Biden signed The Social Security Fairness Act into law: “Finally, GPO-WEP is gone for good. These outdated rules denied over two million…

  • Saunders on repeal of GPO-WEP: Public service workers will finally receive the retirement they were promised

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate voted to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP): “This historic victory for public service workers is…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: Biden’s judicial nominees are all qualified and diverse; the Senate must confirm them

    AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm President Joe Biden’s 235th judicial nominee:  “Today it’s official: the Senate has officially confirmed 235 of President Biden’s judicial nominees, making…

  • Labor leaders, members of Congress urge the Senate to repeal GPO-WEP. Sen. Schumer announced he will bring repeal bill to a vote.

    Labor leaders, members of Congress urge the Senate to repeal GPO-WEP. Sen. Schumer announced he will bring repeal bill to a vote.   The GPO and WEP are outdated provisions that unfairly cut the Social Security benefits…

  • Saunders: We applaud the House for voting to repeal GPO-WEP. The Senate must follow suit.

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the House voted to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP):   “AFSCME applauds the House of Representatives for…

  • Largest Public Sector Labor Unions Unite to Get Out the Vote in Battleground States

    WASHINGTON, DC — The presidents of the nation’s largest public service labor unions — April Verrett of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Becky Pringle of the National Education Association (NEA), Randi Weingarten of the…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders pays tribute to labor legend Bill Lucy

    WASHINGTON – President Lee Saunders released this statement following the death of AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Emeritus Bill Lucy:   “Bill Lucy was a giant, one of the most accomplished and influential trade unionists ever — in…

  • Saunders: It’s time we restore public service workers’ Social Security benefits

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the House gained the signatures necessary to move forward a discharge petition on the Social Security Fairness Act: “For too long, countless public service…

  • Saunders on Gallup Poll: ‘It’s undeniable – Americans want the freedom to organize’

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to Gallup’s annual Labor Day poll showing public support for unions increased, nearing all-time highs:   “It’s undeniable – Americans want the freedom…