Rev. Alka Lyall of United Methodist Church in Chicago gives the invocation on Friday, the final day of the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Robert Salazar)James McCaffity of Maryland Local 2250 and Katie Thelan of Massachusetts Local 1798 lead the Pledge of Allegiance on Friday, the final day of the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Zakiya Rhymer of CSEA New York speaks on a resolution about the Political Action Liaison program during the final day of the 47th International Convention on Friday. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Donald Nesbit of New York DC 37 addresses the delegates on Friday, the final day of the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Outgoing AFSCME President Lee Saunders administers the oath of office to newly elected AFSCME leaders on Friday, the final day of the 47th International Convention. From L-R: International Vice President Shanna Davis of CSEA New York, IVP Anna Radakovits of Pennsylvania Council 13, IVP Brian Brocato, also of Pennsylvania Council 13, AFSCME President Patrick Moran and AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Pollard. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Former AFSCME President Lee Saunders welcomes incoming President Patrick Moran, who was sworn into office Friday at the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Newly elected AFSCME President Patrick Moran is greeted by his predecessor, Lee Saunders, on Friday at the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)AFSCME President Patrick Moran was sworn into office Friday during the 47th International Convention. In his speech to the delegates, Moran said, “For 90 years, AFSCME members have been shaping history and making history. But we’re just getting started. Our brightest days are ahead of us.” (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)After taking the oath of office Friday, Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Pollard addressed the delegates of the 47th International Convention: “The responsibility we accept today is about making sure the next generation of workers inherits a union that is stronger and more powerful than we are today.” (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Delegates celebrate during the final hours of the 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)
Thursday, August 20
The Chicago Bucket Boys perform for AFSCME delegates on Thursday, the fourth day of our union’s 47th International Convention in the Windy City. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Imam Tariq I. El-Amin, of Masjid Al-Taqwa, gives the invocation on Thursday, the fourth day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)AFSCME delegates inside the Convention hall at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago cheer during our union’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Miranda Merriman, of Illinois Local 2600, addresses delegates about Resolution 23 on data centers on Thursday, the fourth day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Tracy O’Donnell (left), of Massachusetts SHARE Local 3900, and Shawn Kelly, of Louisiana Council 17, lead delegates in the Pledge of Allegiance on Thursday, the fourth day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Nico Montag, of Minnesota Local 2829, addresses delegates about Resolution 23 on data centers on Thursday, the fourth day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison (left) and AFSCME President Lee Saunders on the stage Thursday, the fourth day of the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Melody Angel sings Lift Every Voice and Sing during the voting rights program on Thursday, the fourth day of the AFSCME 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky is escorted by AFSCME President Lee Saunders to receive AFSCME’s Spirit of Public Service Award Thursday at the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Mark Hancock, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, delivered a rousing speech expressing cross-border solidarity Thursday to AFSCME members attending the 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Al Cromer of California District Council 36 speaks during the PEOPLE program Thursday at the AFSCME 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Patrick Moran and Nicole Pollard wave to AFSCME members at the 47th International Convention in Chicago after they were elected the next president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, of AFSCME International on Thursday. (Photo: Damian Cardona)Patrick Moran of Maryland Council 3 heads to the stage after being announced as the president-elect of AFSCME International. (Photo: Javeon Butler)
Wednesday, August 19
Alma Ramirez of California Local 1902 (left), John Monse of Rhode Island Council 94 (center) and Neil Diediker of Kansas KOSE recite the Pledge of Allegiance on Wednesday at the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)The Windy City Ramblers Band performs on the third day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Hawaii UPW member Maria Tom speaks Wednesday at the 47th International Convention in Chicago. Tom and Robert Beamon of Connecticut Council 4 — both veterans — spoke at an event saluting AFSCME members who are military and National Guard veterans. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)OCSEA member and 2026 Never Quit Service Award winner Carrington Melton is delighted and surprised during Wednesday’s event honoring his work at our union’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)AFSCME President Lee Saunders hugs two of his counterparts — SEIU President April Verrett (left) and AFT President Randi Weingarten — on Wednesday after all three of them discussed union solidarity and their joint fight to protect public services and workers’ rights. They took part in a panel discussion at AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Rayneika Robinson of Maryland Council 3 (left), Mitchell Spruiell of Texas Correctional Employees Council 907 (at mic) and Jacob VanSickle of the Michigan State Employees Association speak during the Living Legacy/Fallen Heroes program on Wednesday at the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Amie Fairman of New Jersey Council 63 speaks Wednesday in support of a resolution titled “911 Telecommunicators and Dispatchers are First Responders” at the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Thousands of delegates to AFSCME’s 47th International Convention on Wednesday rode buses to a massive union rally on the lakefront in Chicago, where they showed solidarity with workers at the Shedd Aquarium who are fighting for their first contract. The direct action was in support of Shedd Workers United/Council 31. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME’s Mean Green Machine packed the lawn Wednesday across from Shedd Aquarium in support of Shedd Workers United/Council 31. The workers won their union two years ago but are still fighting for their first contract. The event was part of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention and allowed union members from across the country to show their support for the Chicago workers. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch speaks at the massive solidarity rally Wednesday outside the Shedd Aquarium along the lakefront in Chicago. “We’re saying to Shedd management, your priorities are wrong. Prioritize the workers. Workers come first,” Lynch said. Thousands of delegates to AFSCME’s 47th International Convention attended the rally in support of Shedd Workers United and their fight for a contract. (Photo: Robert Salazar)AFSCME Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride celebrated the size of the Mean Green Machine Wednesday, which showed up in force to support the workers at the Shedd Aquarium who are locked in a fight for a contract that includes fair pay. Delegates to the 47th International Convention showed their solidarity with Shedd Workers United/Council 31 in a massive lakeside rally. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME member Kirby Garcia, marketing coordinator at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, tells his fellow union members about Shedd Workers United’s fight for fair wages. Delegates to AFSCME’s 47th International Convention showed their solidarity with the members of Council 31, who are still fighting for their first contract. (Photo: Robert Salazar)AFSCME President Lee Saunders fired up thousands of AFSCME members who rallied Wednesday to support members of Shedd Workers United/Council 31 in their fight for their first contract. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)President Lee Saunders is flanked by some of the thousands of AFSCME members who held a massive rally outside Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on Wednesday to support Shedd Workers United’s fight for their first contract. (Photo: Robert Salazar)Thousands of AFSCME members from all over the country rallied outside Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium on Wednesday to support members of Shedd Workers United/Council 31 seeking their first contract. (Photo: Damian Cardona)AFSCME solidarity was on full display outside Shedd Aquarium on Wednesday as thousands of members from across the country demanded a contract for Council 31 members who keep the famed Chicago institution running. (Photo: Javeon Butler)
Tuesday, August 18
Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride delivers her final keynote speech to the AFSCME Convention on Tuesday. “We cannot rest until every public service worker in our country has the freedom to collectively bargain,” she said. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler praised AFSCME members for their strength and organizing success during a speech Tuesday at the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)(L-R) Jordan McGinnis of Colorado Organizing Committee 976, Katina Jones of Illinois Council 31, Gary Price of Ohio Council 8, Lynne Swarbrick of Oregon Council 75 and Lydia Sowell of Texas Organizing Committee 832 speaks during the organizing program Tuesday at the AFSCME 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Ohio member Lori Coates of OAPSE (front), Chuck Carver of Illinois Council 31 (back row, left), Brian Nitta of UNAC/UHCP from California (back row, center) and Monica Martinez of California Local 3299 rallied fellow AFSCME members on Tuesday during a program on strikes during the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Members participate in the administration and finance sector roundtable during AFSCME’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Maria Millings, of California UDW, participates in the early childhood education sector roundtable during AFSCME’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride, who delivered her final keynote speech to an AFSCME Convention on Tuesday, is embraced by President Lee Saunders. (Photo: Javeon Butler)AFSCME members lead the Pledge of Allegiance to open the 47th International Convention on Tuesday morning. (L to R) Jess Mayer of Arizona Local 2384; Brian Calderwood, California Local 4911; and Mary Blocker-Williams, Florida Council 79. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Rabbi Rachel Weiss, of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, delivers the invocation on the second day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Ballet Folklorico de Chicago performs in the Convention hall on Tuesday, the second day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Sue Conard, president of Wisconsin Retiree Chapter 32 and secretary of the AFSCME Retirees Council, expresses support for a resolution titled “AFSCME Retirees Get Organized” on Tuesday, the second day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Darren Martin, secretary-treasurer of NUHHCE 1199J in New Jersey, discusses the “Save our Hospitals” resolution on the second day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)David Schultz (at mic), a member of Illinois Council 31, speaks about a resolution titled “Organize, Organize, Organize” on Tuesday, the second day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)AFSCME delegates show their support for Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride, who is retiring from AFSCME at the end of the Convention week. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)President Lee Saunders opens Convention business on Tuesday, the second day of the AFSCME 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME member Monica De Leon of Local 3299 in California gave an emotional tribute to the career of Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride, who is retiring from AFSCME this week. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride delivers her final keynote speech to the AFSCME Convention on Tuesday. “We cannot rest until every public service worker in our country has the freedom to collectively bargain,” she said. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME members take part in a Jeopardy!-style contest at the Exhibit Hall to test their union knowledge during the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)AFSCME members participate in the “Paint with PEOPLE” fundraiser at our union’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)
Monday, August 17
Sylvia Davis (left), a guest at the Convention, and Phyllis Bailey, of Indiana Local 661, are ready for Convention on the Get Loud Stage in the Exhibit Hall. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)The Puerto Rico delegation, members of SPUPR/AFSCME Council 95, cheer inside the delegates’ hall during AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Kevin Poge, of DC Local 2091, trades pins during AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Musician Tom Morello fires up the delegates inside the convention hall on the first day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago. (Photo: Robert Salazar)From left to right: AFSCME Washington Council 2 members Michael Rainey (president), Taylor Berglund and Amy Overland say the Pledge of Allegiance on the first day of our union’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)During his keynote address on the first day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention, President Lee Saunders fired up the delegates. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)The AFSCME Local 2960 Honor Guard presents the colors on Monday morning, the start of the 47th International Convention. (Photo: Robert Salazar)Members of Ohio Local 4 bid a fond farewell to AFSCME President Lee Saunders during his final Convention speech. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Members of the Correctional Band of SPUPR/AFSCME Council 95 play La Borinqueña during our union’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Mary Sullivan, president of CSEA in New York, speaks in favor of a resolution honoring former CSEA President Danny Donohue, who died last year. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)An AFSCME delegate attends a workshop at our union’s 47th International Convention. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)Henry Garrido, executive director of DC 37 and an International Vice President, speaks during debate on resolutions at our 47th International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Roberta Lynch, executive director of AFSCME Council 31 and an International Vice President, speaks during debate on resolutions at our 47th International Convention. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)President Lee Saunders basks in the affection of AFSCME members during his farewell keynote address. (Photo: Robert Salazar)President Lee Saunders embraces his granddaughter as he celebrates after delivering the keynote speech on Monday. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)AFSCME President Lee Saunders delivered the keynote address on the first day of AFSCME’s 47th International Convention, his last major speech as president of our union. (Photo: Javeon Butler)
Sunday, August 16
A first-time delegate adds pins to her badge at the Built to Bling booth. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Dakota Lamoureaux of Colorado Local 1335 looks through the AFSCME history book at the 90th Anniversary Gallery in the Exhibit Hall. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Members of Phoenix Local 2960 EMS Workers United get pumped up at the Get Loud stage. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Naimah Muhammad of the New Jersey Retiree Chapter 1199 gets fired up at the Retiree Council meeting on Sunday. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Halcyone Schiller of Pennsylvania Local 397 learned about ways to get involved at the Action Center in the Exhibit Hall. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Illinois retiree member Ronald Smolin shoots some hoops in the game center at Exhibit Hall on Sunday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Amelia Flower (left) and Dana Eagle (right) of Local 3836 in Florida are first-time delegates to the AFSCME International Convention. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME delegates and guests line up to register for the 47th International Convention on Sunday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)First-time delegate Dawn Burnfin of Minnesota Local 1119 kicked off Convention week by exploring Exhibit Hall on Sunday. (Photo: Javeon Butler)Members from California Local 3299 enjoyed a special Sunday reception honoring President Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido (at the mic) toasts President Lee Saunders at a special event on Sunday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)President Lee Saunders (left) greets his son, Lee Saunders Jr., who introduced him during a Sunday reception honoring Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride’s careers. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)AFSCME members walk to a Sunday reception honoring President Lee Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride. (Photo: Javeon Butler)AFSCME delegates and guests cheer at a Sunday reception honoring President Lee Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride. (Photo: Sergio Mantilla)
Saturday, August 15
Sofia Colon Soto of Puerto Rico Local 3500 enjoys a game of ping pong at the Convention on Saturday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Theresa Baleanu of California Local 3930 takes a selfie with other members of her local on Saturday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Melinda Brownlee Anderson of Pennsylvania Local 1981 decorated a T-shirt at the Bling Station in the Exhibit Hall on Saturday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)Convention delegates talk to staff at the AFSCME Advantage booth on Saturday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)John Lustig of Illinois Local 2794 writes on the Graffiti Wall on Saturday. (Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah)
