AFSCME President Lee Saunders on Monday rallied union members to continue organizing, mobilizing and fighting to build power for working people and protect public services.
Delegates to AFSCME’s 47th International Convention in Chicago showed their enthusiastic support and love for Saunders, who was giving his farewell keynote address.
Saunders blasted billionaires and their political allies who are hoarding power and wealth at the expense of working people and retirees. And he encouraged AFSCME members to mobilize like never before to take power back during November’s mid-term elections.
Saunders traced his life story, provided examples of AFSCME’s strength over its 90-year history, and praised AFSCME members for fighting for our union’s values.
Saunders, the son of Ohio public service workers who’s retiring after nearly 50 years with AFSCME at the end of this Convention, called his 14-year tenure as AFSCME president “the privilege of a lifetime.”
“Leadership changes every so often, but there’s something that never changes — the fierce, proud members of the Mean Green Machine,” Saunders said.
“Never forget that you have the power. All of you collectively. Every VMO and PEOPLE MVP. Every steward and activist. Everyone who stands up to the boss. Who asks a co-worker to join the fight. Who simply gets up in the morning and answers the call to strengthen our communities, by doing the heroic and selfless work of public service. That is who you are. That is what you do. Every single day. We are AFSCME!” Saunders said.
He described the threats facing working people, retirees, public services and our way of life from the billionaire-led Trump administration and its political allies.
“They want to privatize public services — because they believe your sacrifice is just a commodity to make some fat cat rich. They want to use AI to make your jobs obsolete. They want to jeopardize your retirement by investing your pension funds in cryptocurrency. They’re coming after collective bargaining because our voice on the job is a threat to their bottom line,” Saunders said. “I am not exaggerating when I make this statement: Democracy itself is under siege.”
He reminded the thousands of Convention delegates and guests that our union has risen up and fought repeatedly for our values, workers’ rights and public services since AFSCME was established in 1936:
- AFSCME was formed by Wisconsin state workers who stood up to a system of political patronage.
- AFSCME Local 1733 sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, changed the course of history by demanding fair pay, respect and dignity in 1968.
- AFSCME members rushed into disaster to save people during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- AFSCME members served and sacrificed on the front lines of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Our union, through its Get Organized campaign, is leading the fight against the anti-worker policies coming from this administration and Congress.
“Our voice can’t be silenced or stifled. We never hit the mute button. We can never be quiet in the face of injustice,” Saunders said. “For 90 years, we have used our voice to build power, to make change and to kick ass — and we’re not going to stop now.”
