Press Releases

  • Lawsuit Challenges Punitive Trump Regulation Targeting the Livelihood of Immigrants

    New Rule on Commercial Driver’s Licenses Will Eliminate the Jobs of Thousands of Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and DACA Recipients WASHINGTON, D.C. — Public Citizen Litigation Group, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees…

  • Federal Judge Issues Immediate Halt of Trump Administration’s Illegal Firing of Federal Workers During Shutdown

    AFSCME, AFGE filed lawsuit challenging administration’s reduction-in-force plans SAN FRANCISCO – A federal judge today ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt the mass firing of federal employees initiated since the government has been shut…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: These mass firings are illegal, and will have devastating effects on the services millions of Americans rely on every day

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Trump administration announced it was using the federal government shutdown to illegally carry out mass firings of federal employees: “These mass firings are…

  • AFSCME President Saunders Statement on the Passing of Kent Wong

    We are deeply saddened by the passing of Kent Wong, a beloved leader, teacher, and ally whose lifelong passion for justice strengthened the entire labor movement.  Through his visionary leadership of the UCLA Labor Center,…

  • Democracy Defenders Fund & Federal Employee Unions Call on OMB to Uphold Federal Law and Guarantee Back Pay for Furloughed Employees

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Democracy Defenders Fund (DDF), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)  and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) today demanded that the Office of Management and Budget confirm that every federal employee furloughed…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: Someone needs to tell the billionaires running this administration that paying federal workers isn’t optional

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration is threatening to deny furloughed federal workers back pay during the shutdown in direct violation of federal…

  • Unions File Temporary Restraining Order to Block Trump Administration’s Threatened Mass Firings of Federal Workers

    AFSCME, AFGE ask court to block potential Trump firings SAN FRANCISCO – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Government Employees filed a motion for a temporary restraining…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: Shutting down the government won’t hide the health care crisis that anti-worker extremists started

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after anti-worker extremists in Congress refused to address massive cuts to health care and rising costs, resulting in a government shutdown:  “As families across the…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: Court ruling a major victory for Voice of America workers who protect free speech across the globe

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling pausing the Trump administration’s layoff of Voice of America workers: “Today’s decision…

  • Trump Administration’s Plan for Mass Firing of Federal Workers During Government Shutdown Violates Law, Unions Say

    AFSCME, AFGE file lawsuit challenging administration’s reduction-in-force plans  SAN FRANCISCO – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the American Federation of Government Employees today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s threats of a…