AFSCME Says Organizing is Answer to Attacks
Monday, July 21, 2014(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Despite all the attacks on public sector
workers this year, AFSCME nearly doubled its goal of helping 50,000 people join
the union, with more
than 90,000
workers choosing AFSCME so far in 2014, AFSCME President Lee Saunders announced
at the union’s international convention in Chicago on July 14. More than
20,000
of the new members are home care workers, who were recently the target of the
troubling Supreme Court ruling in Harris
v. Quinn.
“Today, we are 92,155 members stronger, with new members from EMTs to home
care
workers, and we will continue our fight for the middle class and the future of
this country,” Saunders said. “Our opponents want to deplete the labor
movement
of resources, steal our power and silence our voices. They are even
undercutting the most fundamental right we have as Americans: the right to
vote. Yet, no matter the challenges that face us, the answer remains the same:
Organize. Organize. Organize...” Thousands of convention delegates took to
the
city’s streets last Wednesday to support Chicago cab drivers who are
organizing
with AFSCME. “This year's convention sizzled with the spirit
of
solidarity,” said convention delegate Saul Schniderman (AFSCME Council
26). “It's
good to come together with union brothers and sisters and renew your
commitment to the labor movement." Click here for the AFSCME convention blog. photo by
Tessa
Berg/AFSCME