Press Releases

  • 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…

  • AFSCME’s Saunders: This is a blatant attempt to hold federal workers hostage, instead of addressing an imminent extreme increase in ACA premiums for 22 million Americans

    WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Office of Management and Budget threatened mass firings of federal workers in the event of a federal government shutdown: “After slashing public services…

  • Unions Sue Trump Administration Over Union Busting at Voice of America, USAGM

    AFSCME, AFGE say move to strip workers of their collective bargaining rights is attempt by administration to silence their First Amendment rights WASHINGTON – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and…

  • Federal Judge Rebukes Trump Administration for Firing Essential Federal Employees

    In a sharply worded decision issued late Friday, a federal district judge ruled that the Trump Administration broke the law by firing federal workers employed in vital roles protecting public safety and supporting the U.S. economy.  Judge…