May 05, 2020 Overworked and Underprotected: Ohio Correction Officer Seeks Federal Assistance Inside a Columbus, Ohio, facility, corrections officers are overworked and worried about catching COVID-19. Read More
May 05, 2020 ‘Things Are Beyond a Breaking Point’ Says Ohio CO Infected with COVID-19 What’s it like inside a prison where the coronavirus is running rampant? An Ohio corrections officer who has COVID-19 explains. Read More
April 29, 2020 Helping Ohio’s Unemployed, One Person at a Time Providing an economic lifeline to unemployed Ohioans means working nights and weekends for these two OCSEA members. Read More
April 29, 2020 Furloughed Florida Member Needs More Than Prayer to Survive Shirley Thomas tells her story of economic insecurity and urges federal aid for state and local governments so she could return to serving her community. Read More
April 28, 2020 This Workers Memorial Day, We Honor Those Who Died at Work, Including From COVID-19. On Workers Memorial Day, we honor and mourn those who lost their lives on the job – including from COVID-19. Read More
April 24, 2020 COVID-19 is Not Slowing Down Foster Care, Adoption Services in Adams County, CO Once the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, AFSCME members in Adams County, Colorado, expect an increase in child abuse reports. Read More
April 23, 2020 At Risk, But Unwavering in Her Commitment Despite the risks the COVID-19 pandemic brings to front-line workers, Connecticut intake investigator Shannon Martin remains steadfast in her commitment to her clients. Read More
April 22, 2020 ‘Our Work is Essential to Keep Kids Safe’ A Washington state member whose job is to protect children from abuse speaks about the effect that the coronavirus pandemic is having on her job. Read More
April 22, 2020 Honoring Library Workers On A Day Dedicated to Them Libraries are important to communities, and we honor the workers who keep them running. Read More
April 20, 2020 COVID-19 is Hitting America’s Prisons. AFSCME COs Are Fighting to Contain It. A Texas prison that had no COVID-19 cases a month ago now has four. That’s just one example of the virus hitting correctional facilities where our members work. Read More
April 17, 2020 Continuing to Serve Special Needs Individuals During the Pandemic Serving Hawaii residents who have physical and intellectual disabilities is proving to be particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
April 16, 2020 ‘This is what we are called to do’: Inside a Drive-Up COVID-19 Testing Facility AFSCME members in Manchester, New Hampshire, are staffing a drive-up coronavirus testing site. They have tested more than 800 people and counting. Read More
April 14, 2020 Each Client Visit Filled with Trepidation for Colorado Social Caseworker When Colorado member Camille Frazier goes to work, she’s anxious about visiting homes where someone might have COVID-19. Read More
April 13, 2020 Meet an AFSCME Member Offering Comfort to People Losing Jobs You know which front-line workers have become heroes of late? Unemployment claims professionals like Jason Suggs of Maryland. Read More
April 09, 2020 UI Claims Processors Offer Hope, But Sustaining That Work Requires More Aid An AFSCME member and AFSCME President Lee Saunders joined others in pushing for more state and local assistance from Congress. Read More
April 08, 2020 No Clear Path for Two California Hospital Workers Two Bay area hospital workers in northern California face an uncertain path during the coronavirus pandemic. Read More
April 08, 2020 ‘We’re Doing Our Best, But It Feels Like We’re Using Chicken Wire and Zip Ties’ Even in paradise, the coronavirus is a problem. Hawaii Child/adult protective services specialist Kalani Motta describes the challenges he faces in doing his job. Read More
April 08, 2020 AZ Paramedic: ‘We Need Leadership From the Federal Government’ It’s become a familiar refrain from first responders like Michelle Prentice of Arizona – they need more protective gear. Read More
April 07, 2020 Bayou State Blues: Members Slammed While Processing Record Unemployment Claims Louisiana members handling unemployment claims are seeing a huge spike in cases as the Bayou State economy crumbles. Read More
April 03, 2020 Behavioral Health Workers Share Challenges of Treatment During COVID-19 Pandemic AFSCME Council 28 member Mike Yestramski, president of WFSE, described some of the challenges facing behavioral health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
April 03, 2020 Desperate for Relief, Under Unprecedented Strain, FDNY EMS Continues to Serve AFSCME EMS workers in New York City are exhausted but continue to serve. Read More
April 02, 2020 Health Care Workers on the Front Lines in AZ Fight to Reach the ‘Finish Line’ Safely In Tucson, Arizona, AFSCME Local 449 member John Duran is fighting for more protective equipment for his co-workers and a written COVID-19 plan from management. Read More
April 02, 2020 A Community’s Greatest Asset During a Pandemic? Try Union Solidarity. AFSCME members are going above the call of duty to keep their communities safe – and are looking out for one another in selfless and inspiring ways as this Kentucky example shows. Read More
April 01, 2020 Their Lives Are On The Line. Yet, ‘Public Service Workers Still Answer the Call’ What’s it like to be on the front lines as a health care worker? AFSCME President Lee Saunders and three AFSCME International vice presidents provide details. Read More
April 01, 2020 ‘We’re Built To Do This’ Hear from health care workers about their commitment to serve on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus. Read More
March 31, 2020 COVID-19 Crisis Presents Especially Tough Challenges for Home Care Workers Home care workers, who take care of the most vulnerable members of their communities, are at high risk of contracting the coronavirus or infecting their clients. Read More
March 31, 2020 A Fragile Balance, Broken At a California hospital for sexually violent offenders, staff fear a coronavirus outbreak will wreak havoc on their patients. Read More
March 27, 2020 Helping Out-of-Work Nevadans File for Unemployment is How She Serves Her State This Nevada member is helping out-of-work Nevadans pay their bills, put food on their table. Read More
March 27, 2020 Arizona EMS Workers Put Their Communities First but Struggle to Find Resources Patti Davidson, an Arizona paramedic, describes how she ventures into battle with COVID-19 without all the weapons she needs. Read More
March 26, 2020 ‘We’re Just Here to Make Sure Everybody, No Matter Who You Are, is Taken Care Of’ OAPSE member Donna Ragland describes what it’s like on the front lines in Columbus, Ohio. Read More