90 years
union strong

Be a history maker:

Honoring our past, fighting for our future

AFSCME Family,

2026 marks the 90th anniversary of our union — nine decades of working people coming together to build their collective power, to gain a voice on the job, and to strengthen their communities.

From the 1930s, when a group of state workers in Wisconsin banded together to protect their jobs and block political cronies from corrupting public services, to the 1.4 million members fighting today — we haven’t just survived 90 years of history, we’ve SHAPED it.

It’s a history of contracts won and lives improved. Of collective bargaining wins and civil rights progress. And of courageous members who, in moments of crisis, ran to the frontlines.

Across 90 years of history, time and time again, AFSCME members haven’t chosen this line of work to get rich; they’ve done it because they want to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. They’ve done it because they believe public service is more than a job, it’s a calling.

Today, we continue to face big challenges to our rights and freedoms. But this anniversary, we’re reminded that we are heirs to a history of activists, organizers, and fighters. And when we come together, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.

Lee Saunders 
President, AFSCME

Our History

AFSCME was born in the depths of the Great Depression on a simple but powerful idea: that a professional civil service is essential to a strong democracy.

The business of the people should be carried out by those dedicated to serving their communities, not political insiders with powerful connections. That belief has carried AFSCME from a grassroots group of a few thousand workers to one of the biggest powerhouses in the labor movement.

For nine decades, when others stood down, AFSCME organized and took a powerful stand.

1932–1955

Fighting for Civil Service

1932

A small group of white-collar professional employees in Madison, Wis., fearing they would lose their civil service jobs to political patronage, formed the Wisconsin State Employees Association (WSEA), which would later become Council 24 (Wisconsin State Employees Union). This organization was akin to our union in its infancy but wasn’t AFSCME yet — that would come a few years later.

Wisconsin State Employees Association members

Members of the Wisconsin State Employees Association (which later became AFSCME Council 24).

1933

WSEA members held meetings, marched, demonstrated and lobbied hard in the state legislature to defeat a bill that would have dismantled the state civil service system.

1935

Similar employee associations emerged in 19 states. At the American Federation of Labor (AFL) convention, the group, now known as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), was made a “department” of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE).

1936

AFSCME was granted a charter by the AFL, marking its beginnings as an independent labor union. Arnold Zander was chosen as AFSCME’s first International president after he formed a coalition of 20 public sector locals around the country.

The AFSCME convention took place at the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, Michigan in 1936. AFSCME President Arnold Zander is seated with folded hands in the center front. Behind and to his left is Secretary-Treasurer Roy Kubista.

1938

2,000 sanitation workers in Philadelphia went on strike to protest layoffs and pay cuts and won AFSCME’s first bargaining agreement with a major city.

2,000 city workers — AFSCME Local 222 members — staged a four-day strike that resulted in the first collective bargaining agreement between the union and a major city.

1936–1945

AFSCME focused on lobbying in state legislatures to pass or strengthen civil service laws; membership increased from 10,000 to 73,000.

Two men hold a sign for AFSCME’s 1940 Convention in Duluth, Minnesota

1945–1946

World War II ended. The postwar period was marked by a wave of strikes as workers — 3.5 million in 1945 and 4.6 million in 1946 — struck for higher wages in the postwar economy. There was also unrest in the public sector as city employees struck in several cities.

1947

Eight states passed laws that would penalize striking public workers. Congress passed the Taft-Hartley Act, which restricted private-sector unions and made it easier for employers to break strikes.

1955

AFL and CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations) merged to form the AFL-CIO. AFSCME membership passed 100,000.

AFSCME President Arnold S. Zander reports to the AFL-CIO Convention in Washington, D.C. on the activities of the Committee on Government Employees’ Subcommittee on Resolutions

1958–1965

Bargaining for Rights

1958

A series of strikes and demonstrations in New York City pressured Mayor Robert Wagner to sign an executive order granting collective bargaining rights to unions representing city employees. Under the leadership of District Council 37 President Jerry Wurf, AFSCME began winning elections that made it the strongest public worker union in the city.

NYC Department of Parks employees on strike, Local 374 (later local 147) Brooklyn Botanic Garden Employees

1961

President John F. Kennedy issued Executive Order 10988, legitimizing collective bargaining for federal employees and creating a favorable atmosphere for all public employees.

1964

Jerry Wurf — running on a platform of aggressive organizing, fighting for collective bargaining rights for public workers, and union reform/union democracy — was elected the second International president at the biennial AFSCME Convention.

Outgoing President Arnold Zander swears in new officers, including new President Jerry Wurf, at the 1964 AFSCME Convention in Denver, CO

1965

A special AFSCME Convention rewrote AFSCME’s Constitution and included a Bill of Rights for union members, a first in the American labor movement. By year’s end, several states enacted collective bargaining laws for public employees. AFSCME membership reached 250,000.

Mid 1960s–1975

Militant Demands for Respect

Mid 1960s

More states passed collective bargaining laws. AFSCME’s demands for respect for public workers became linked with the civil rights movement and progressive groups that protested economic, racial and social injustice.

AFSCME Local 1733 sanitation workers strike in Memphis with National Guard members looking on.

1968

Sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., struck for union recognition and against the city’s discriminatory practices. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., marched with the striking workers and was assassinated. The city agreed to recognize the workers’ union, AFSCME Local 1733.

Striking members of Memphis Local 1733 hold signs whose slogan symbolized the sanitation workers’ campaign in 1968.

1972

William Lucy was elected secretary-treasurer of the International union. A lifelong civil rights activist, Lucy worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tenn. and led labor’s delegation to South Africa after the election of President Nelson Mandela.

Bill Lucy served as AFSCME secretary-treasurer for 38 years.

1975

In Pennsylvania, some 46,000 AFSCME-represented state workers struck for fair wages — the first legal, large-scale strike by public employees.

Mid 1970s–1998

Power Through Organizing and Political Action

Mid-1970s

Over 60 independent employee associations affiliated with AFSCME.

HGEA (Hawaii Government Employees Association) and UPW (United Public Workers) members voted to affiliate with AFSCME in 1971.

1978

The New York Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), with 250,000 members, affiliated with AFSCME and pushed membership over the 1 million mark.

AFSCME president Jerry Wurf and Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA) president William L. McGowan stand at a podium as AFSCME and CSEA agree to affiliate, 1978.

1980s

In an era of anti-public worker sentiment, AFSCME greatly increased its political activism and visibility and helped elect AFSCME-endorsed candidates at all government levels. Collective bargaining rights were won in three new states: Illinois, Ohio and Nebraska.

AFSCME International Vice Presidents Jack Merkel, Dominic Bodalato, and William McGowan, along with Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy and President Gerald McEntee at the 1983 AFSCME Political Action Conference in Boston.

1981

President Ronald Reagan broke a strike by PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization), beginning an era of attacks on workers in both the public and private sectors. AFSCME’s 60,000-member delegation, the largest from any single union, led the AFL-CIO Solidarity Day — a massive demonstration in Washington, DC, demanding fair treatment for American workers. City workers in San Jose, Calif., members of AFSCME Local 101, waged the first strike in the nation’s history over the issue of pay equity for women workers.

Members of AFSCME Local 101 in San Jose, CA struck for pay equity for women in 1981, the first strike of its kind in the nation. Local 101 had already urged the city government to conduct a pay equity study which revealed sharp disparities in men’s and women’s pay for equally valuable work. The strike succeeded in the city agreeing to remedy this gap.

1981 cont.

AFSCME President Jerry Wurf died. Following his death, union members and friends created the Wurf Memorial Fund to honor his life and legacy. It provides support for research, scholarship and leadership development to promote public sector unionism and strengthen union leaders’ capacity to meet 21st-century challenges. Gerald McEntee was chosen as the union’s third International president.

Coretta Scott King listens as AFSCME President Gerald McEntee speaks at a rally against apartheid outside of the South African embassy in Washington, D.C.

1989

The National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees (NUHHCE) affiliated with AFSCME and solidified our union as the leading voice for the rights of health care workers.

Two members of AFSCME Local 1199C, the National Union of Hospital & Health Care Employees (NUHHCE), demonstrate in Philadelphia.

1990

AFSCME membership surpassed 1.2 million.

AFSCME members engage in mass mobilization to defend workers’ rights as membership surpasses 1 million.

1998

Delegates at AFSCME’s Convention committed to a bold program of aggressive organizing.

A delegate to AFSCME’s convention representing DC 1707.

2001–2019

AFSCME in the 21st Century

2001

60,000 public service workers in a dozen states and Puerto Rico organized with AFSCME — the largest single year of organizing in three decades.

AFSCME delegates and guests from Puerto Rico pose for the camera during the 35th Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

2002

Another 55,000 workers joined AFSCME; membership reached 1.3 million.

Attendees at a rally at City Hall hold signs reading “No more hocus pocus. Now it’s time to focus.” from Council 47 in Philadelphia PA.

2004

AFSCME Convention delegates passed the 21st Century Resolution, creating a committee to examine every aspect of our union and to make recommendations to the 2006 AFSCME Convention.

2006

AFSCME increased its ranks to 1.6 million members. The 21st Century Power to Win plan was adopted at the 37th AFSCME International Convention. Due to grassroots efforts across the country, AFSCME helped stop the Bush administration from privatizing Social Security. Through concerted efforts, we helped win six governors’ houses and took back legislative chambers in 10 states, and won back the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Congress.

AFSCME retirees rally against privatizing Social Security.

2007

AFSCME created a new brand and identity which included the new logo and tagline: We Make America Happen.

In 2007, AFSCME refreshed its brand identity, featuring a new logo and tagline.

2008

40,000 volunteers mobilized to elect President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Before and during his presidency, President Barack Obama addressed AFSCME members at our International Convention.

2009

AFSCME was the top organizing union in the AFL-CIO. AFSCME played a major role in winning health care reform and getting fiscal relief for states through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). AFSCME convened the first-ever national Next Wave Conference, for new and young leaders of local unions and councils. Close to 600 Next Wavers converged on Chicago, Illinois.

AFSCME Next Wave empowers young members in our union in the fight for dignity and economic prosperity.

2010

Lee A. Saunders was elected International secretary-treasurer in July at the International Convention. Saunders joined the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA) when he worked for the state of Ohio in his 20s. Saunders had worked for AFSCME in many capacities since 1978, most recently as executive assistant to AFSCME President Gerald McEntee.

Lee Saunders poses with his family after being sworn in as secretary-treasurer at the 39th AFSCME International Convention in Boston.

2011

In February 2011, nearly 200,000 Wisconsin public service employees, including more than 60,000 AFSCME members, lost the right to bargain collectively over health care, retirement and working conditions. In response, tens of thousands of protestors demonstrated at the Capitol in Madison for months. A recall campaign was mounted that ultimately resulted in two Republican state senators being unseated from office.

In the state where AFSCME was born, thousands of Wisconsin public service workers and supporters flooded the Capitol in Madison to oppose Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-union bill.

2001–2019

AFSCME in the 21st Century cont.

2011 cont.

In Ohio, Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) targeted collective bargaining for public workers. AFSCME members, working with other unions and coalition partners, gathered enough signatures to place a repeal referendum on Ohio’s November 2011 ballot. Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to repeal SB 5 and to protect collective bargaining for public employees.

AFSCME members mobilized to protect collective bargaining rights for public employees in Ohio.

2012

Lee A. Saunders was elected International president in June at the International Convention, becoming the union’s first African-American president. Saunders succeeded Gerald McEntee, who served the union as president for more than 30 years. The right-wing assault on workers’ rights continued, as anti-union politicians in Indiana and Michigan enacted right-to-work laws intended to weaken union power.

Lee Saunders is sworn in as president of AFSCME at the International Convention in Los Angeles.

2013

AFSCME continued to aggressively organize new members, adding thousands of emergency medical services workers and 7,500 Vermont home care providers, who later won raises of up to 30% in their first contract.

7,500 Vermont home care providers organized with AFSCME and won significant raises in their first contract.

2014

AFSCME initiated the 50,000 Stronger program to organize new members, relying in large part on volunteer member organizers, or VMOs. The International Union and affiliates not only met that goal, but nearly doubled it — adding 92,155 members by the time of the International Convention in July.

AFSCME launched the 50,000 Stronger program to organize new members.

2015

President Saunders initiated AFSCME Strong, a comprehensive expansion of the 50,000 Stronger campaign to strengthen our union in the workplace and add new members, in order to overcome attacks from anti-union billionaires and politicians.

President Saunders speaks to members about the importance of staying AFSCME Strong.

2016

President Saunders was reelected at the 42nd International Convention. By an overwhelming margin, workers from Public Employees Union, Local 1, in Northern California voted to affiliate with AFSCME, adding more than 6,500 new members.

Members of Public Employees Union, Local 1, in Northern California vote to affiliate with AFSCME.

2017

Republicans assumed full control of the legislature and governor’s office in Iowa and quickly went about eliminating collective bargaining rights for public employees. Elissa McBride became secretary-treasurer of AFSCME.

Elissa McBride was named secretary-treasurer of AFSCME.

2018

Thousands gathered in Memphis to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ Strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a partisan 5-4 decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31, overturned a four-decade precedent. Because of the groundwork laid by the AFSCME Strong campaign, AFSCME retained 94 percent of the workers it represented.

President Saunders along with thousands marched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death and the Memphis, Tennessee, sanitation workers’ strike.

2019

AFSCME continued to expand the rights of public service workers by securing collective bargaining for 40,000 family child care providers in California and 20,000 state employees in Nevada, the largest expansion of collective bargaining rights for state workers anywhere in the country in 16 years.

AFSCME secured collective bargaining rights for 20,000 Nevada state employees.

2020–2023

The Pandemic and its Aftermath

2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly in 2020, essential workers put their lives on the line by working in person on the front lines to serve their communities. AFSCME launched Fund the Front Lines (FTFL), a campaign to urge Congress to approve emergency funding for state and local governments. AFSCME also launched the Cultural Workers United (CWU) campaign to organize workers in libraries, museums, zoos and more.

AFSCME launched the Cultural Workers United (CWU) campaign to organize workers in libraries, museums, zoos and more.

2020 cont.

AFSCME members played a key role in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House. AFSCME led a campaign to expand collective bargaining rights to thousands of public service workers in Virginia. The legislation striking down that ban was sponsored by an AFSCME member serving in the General Assembly.

Joe Biden was elected president in 2020.

2021

In 2021, our union’s Fund the Front Lines campaign was successful as President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act included $350 billion in aid to state and local governments and schools. AFSCME members, who contacted their members of Congress by the thousands, played a key role in passing the bill.

AFSCME members played a key role in passing the American Rescue Plan Act.

2022

AFSCME members led the push in Colorado to expand collective bargaining rights for county workers. Colorado enacted a law allowing up to 36,000 county workers to form unions. Prior to that law, workers for just four of Colorado’s 64 counties had collective bargaining rights.

AFSCME members in Colorado led the push for expanded union rights for county workers.

2023

To resolve the public service worker staffing crisis, AFSCME launched the Staff the Front Lines (STFL) campaign. Thanks to funds from the American Rescue Plan, public service workers were also able to negotiate historic contracts with record pay raises.

AFSCME launched the Staff the Front Lines campaign.

2025–2026

Working People Under Attack

2025

As Donald Trump returned to the White House, billionaires and anti-union extremists orchestrated mass firings of federal workers, set out to destroy public services, and attacked labor unions. To fight back, AFSCME launched the Get Organized (GO) campaign. AFSCME members organized to protect public services as well as lifesaving programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. AFSCME filed multiple lawsuits to fight the administration’s illegal overreach. After the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed Congress by a razor-thin margin, AFSCME members spoke out at events nationwide. Cultural Workers United reached a milestone — organizing 50,000 cultural workers across the country, more than any other union.

Through the Get Organized campaign, AFSCME members fought to protect public services and lifesaving federal programs.

2026

Although the attacks against us and the essential public services we provide are in many ways unprecedented, AFSCME members are fighting back. At a time when public approval of labor unions has soared to levels not seen in decades, our union is growing. Workers across the country are joining the AFSCME family. We remain hopeful, resolute and empowered. Inspired and emboldened by our long history of success, we know we will once again persevere.

AFSCME members participated in No Kings events in communities across the country.

2026 cont.

In July, AFSCME members in Arizona won a major victory for public services and the workers who provide them. Members of all five Arizona AFSCME locals united to defeat an attempt by anti-worker lawmakers in the state legislature to strip all public service workers of collective bargaining rights. After the legislature referred a measure seeking to amend the Arizona constitution to ban public sector collective bargaining to the November ballot, AFSCME’s Arizona locals jointly filed suit. A Maricopa County circuit judge sided with our union, writing in a July 28 ruling that the attempt by anti-worker legislators was unconstitutional and illegal, blocking it from the ballot.

And because AFSCME’s advocacy sounded the alarm on this measure throughout the state, the lawmakers did not appeal AFSCME’s victory, making it final and preserving our union rights in Arizona.

2026 cont.

In August, thousands of AFSCME members attending the 47th International Convention in Chicago elected new leaders: Patrick Moran as AFSCME International president and Nicole Pollard as AFSCME International secretary-treasurer. They replaced Lee Saunders and Elissa McBride, respectively.

Moran, a lifelong organizer, previously served as an AFSCME International vice president and president of Maryland Council 3, where he expanded collective bargaining for public service workers, strengthened safety standards and built power by growing membership.

Pollard, an AFSCME member for 23 years, previously served as executive assistant to Saunders. Before that, she was an attorney in AFSCME’s Office of General Counsel. Pollard made history by becoming the first African-American woman to serve as AFSCME’s secretary-treasurer.

Newly elected AFSCME President Patrick Moran and Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Pollard close out the 47th International Convention

PUBLIC SERVICE, PERSONAL STORIES

Every member helps write the next chapter of AFSCME’s story. Over the past 90 years, we’ve been on the frontlines of history, fighting back, never backing down, and never quitting. Every struggle, every victory, and every moment of solidarity has been written by proud members like you. Now it’s your turn. Tell us about your journey with AFSCME and become a part of our living history.

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