by admin | September 13, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

HUDSON – August 30, 2019 – It’s the Friday before the Fall Semester starts at Columbia-Greene Community College (CGCC). Staff are busy getting everything ready for incoming students, and Terri Bellanger is there to make sure everyone has access to the information they...

by admin | April 25, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

AUBURN - April 24, 2019 - The members of AFSCME Local 3124 demanded a fair contract now at an informational picket and rally outside of Auburn Community Hospital. Over a hundred workers and supporters publicly called for fair wages, decent benefits, and...

by admin | April 9, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

CHITTENANGO – April 4, 2019 – Sometimes people don’t know what they’re capable of until they do something truly remarkable. Robin Whipple and her husband Mike are both Head Cleaners at the Chittenango Central School District who never expected that one day they would...

by admin | February 8, 2019 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Earlier this week, the members of AFSCME Local 3124 announced the formation of a Contract Action Team to lead the fight for a fair contract at Auburn Community Hospital. The Union’s move comes after months of contentious negotiations over a new collective...

by admin | January 15, 2019 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

ROCHESTER – January 12, 2018 – It’s a frigid Saturday morning as the vendors set up their stalls and the first visitors arrive at the City of Rochester Public Market. Assistant Market Supervisor Evan Lowenstein is getting ready for another hectic shift at the City’s...

by admin | September 3, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Labor Day is a time to celebrate and honor everything we do to serve our communities. It's also a time to remember American workers who fought so hard in the past for things like safe working conditions, retirement security, and racial equality on the job. But our...

by admin | August 27, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

SYRACUSE, New York – August 27, 2018 – The members of AFSCME Council 66 are proud to endorse Dana Balter for Congress. Balter’s ironclad commitment to defend workers’ rights presents a clear choice for union members who live in the 24th Congressional District. During...

by admin | June 27, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Dan DiClemente, President of AFSCME Council 66, issued this response to the US Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME Council 31: In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court overturned decades of legal precedent by declaring that fair share fees to public service unions...

by admin | June 21, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

ROCHESTER – June 21, 2018 – At a press conference, union leaders in Rochester pushed back against the firing of the City’s Labor Relations Manager and Mayor Warren’s attacks on police, firefighters, and public employees. On June 20, Labor Relations Manager Amorette...

by admin | June 14, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

ALBANY – June 14, 2018 – AFSCME Council 66 and Pearl Insurance are launching an exciting new initiative to provide affordable insurance options exclusively for Council 66 members. These insurance programs are designed specifically for our union members to protect them...

by admin | June 7, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Today, Joe Morelle announced that the City Public Employees Coalition (CPEC) has endorsed his candidacy for the 25th Congressional district. The CPEC is comprised of five unions in the City of Rochester, including: Board of Education Non-Teaching Employees (BENTE)...

by admin | March 20, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

LACKAWANNA – March 20, 2018 – “Everybody can make a difference,” said Brittany Shepard, a Behavioral Health Specialist at Baker-Victory Services and the Treasurer of AFSCME Local 2786. She knows about having a positive impact, because every day, Brittany and her...

by admin | February 24, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

BUFFALO - February 24, 2018 - Members of the labor and civil rights movement mobilized for a rally on Saturday, February 24th to demand an end to the rigged economic and political system. Hundreds of demonstrators spoke out in front of the Federal Courthouse in...

by admin | February 1, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

ROCHESTER – February 1, 2018 – The City of Rochester was one of the many municipalities that observed a nationwide Moment of Silence on February 1, 2018. The Moment of Silence honored Echol Cole and Robert Walker, two Memphis, TN sanitation workers who were crushed to...

by admin | January 30, 2018 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

New York - January 28, 2018 - Council 66 scored a stunning upset when it unexpectedly won a seat on the Executive Board of AFSCME International at a convention held in New York City. Council 66 President Dan DiClemente was elected International Vice President (IVP)...

by admin | November 8, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

New Yorkers Vote NO on Proposal 1: Constitutional Convention Statement from President Dan DiClemente Rochester, New York – November 8, 2017 – Dan DiClemente, President of AFSCME Council 66, issued the following statement regarding the outcome of the Constitutional...

by admin | September 13, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

It’s a Wednesday morning in mid-September. School’s back and that means Antoinette Nelson is hard at work monitoring the halls of All City High School in Rochester. Miss Nelson, as she’s known to both students and co-workers, is a School Safety Officer (SSO) for the...

by Aaron Gallant | August 14, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

AFSCME Local 1961, Council 66 members voted to endorse Frank Commisso, Jr. for Mayor of Albany. Frank Coons, President of the Albany Blue Collar Workers Union, praised Commisso’s record of service: “Frank is an outstanding public servant and he has been a strong voice...

by Aaron Gallant | June 8, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

In the first citywide mayoral candidates forum since the conclusion of the Democratic Party’s designation process, the members of Council 66 affiliates BENTE/AFSCME Local 2419 and AFSCME Local 1635 hosted the top three candidates for Mayor of Rochester to discuss...

by Aaron Gallant | June 6, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Union members and leaders from Council 66 gathered in Niagara Falls in June to chart a new course for the Union. Over 100 delegates from across Upstate New York and the Hudson Valley attended the two-day convention held at Seneca Niagara. This event marked the 25th...

by Aaron Gallant | May 22, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Stewards from Allegany County Local 2574 received training in Belmont, NY. The day-long session was led by Tracy Monahan and John English from AFSCME International, and it covered a wide range of topics including the duty of fair representation, contracts, workplace...

by Aaron Gallant | May 9, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

The leadership of Erie 1 BOCES Local 2567 met for its annual Executive Board dinner on Tuesday, May 9. Officers and staff from Council 66, including 2nd Vice President Rich Canazzi and Recording Secretary Barbara Zarpentine, were also in attendance at the dinner as...

by admin | April 11, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

President Frank Coons of Blue Collar Workers Local 1961 and members of the Executive Board met with Dan DiClemente, the new President of Council 66, to discuss ongoing concerns about workplace practices. Local 1961 represents blue collar employees in the City of...

by admin | April 7, 2017 | Uncategorized | 0 Comments

In a bid to restart contract negotiations, the Erie County Legislature voted for a one-time pay raise of $1,000 for all County employees. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz declared an impasse on negotiations earlier this year, and all contract talks with AFSCME...