Story by MIKE LEE, Photos by THEA SETTERBO

The mood was as bright as the California sun as members and union activists gathered Aug. 12-16 for the 46th International Convention of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

With the theme of “Front Line & Fearless,” the Los Angeles Convention Center was filled with union leaders and member delegates, including a large District Council 37 contingent.

The very first delegate to register onsite was DC 37’s own Deborah Allman, President of the New York Public Library Guild Local 1930, and one of the fiercest advocates for library workers during City budget negotiations.

During the Convention, she stood for a resolution defending Affirmative Action and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which was overwhelmingly approved by convention attendees.

“The problem lies with the people who use discrimination to keep their edge in education, the workplace, and in life,” Allman said. “The fault lies with those who don’t see that diversity enhances creativity and productivity in the workplace, and in decision-making for the betterment of everyone. The fault lies with those who don’t understand equality means creating opportunities for all.”

Delegates immediately got down to business in choosing the leadership team to guide the union in the next four years. With labor rights on the line and the fight to prevent former President Donald J. Trump from returning to the White House with a destructive platform (see Project 2025, page 6), the delegates were determined to stay the course in these uncertain times.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido and SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells were re-elected to AFSCME’s Executive Board.

Later, Garrido nominated AFSCME President Lee Saunders for another term as the union’s leader. For the delegates, the choice was clear: they overwhelmingly approved the re-election of President Saunders and Secretary-Treasurer Elissa McBride.

“We are ready in the coming years to keep fighting and winning starting this fall when we will make the difference in this high-stakes presidential election,” Saunders said. “I am excited to work with all 1.4 million AFSCME members — the strongest, most fearless people I know — to seize the promising opportunities before us and launch the next great era in AFSCME’s history.”

On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave a passionate speech outlining the Harris-Walz agenda in his first solo campaign event as Kamala Harris’ running mate.

The following day, union leaders and delegates joined members of AFSCME Local 3299, the University of California’s largest employee union, in a raucous demonstration for a new contract.

In a video message to the delegates, Harris argued for a better future for working people.

“We fight for the future, a future with affordable health care, affordable child care and paid leave, a future where we build a broad-based economy where every person, every American, has the opportunity to own a home, to start a business, and to build wealth,” she said. “And a future where we lower the cost of living for America’s families so that folks have a chance not just to get by, but to get ahead.”

Nearly 2,000 delegates participated in the convention, representing more than 800,000 AFSCME members. The next biennial convention will take place in 2026 in Chicago.