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AFSCME is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. As the title suggests, AFSCME primarily represents public employees at all levels of government. It is the largest public employee union in the United States with 1.4 million members.

The building blocks of the union movement are the local unions. They are made up of employees either by geographical location, similarity of jobs, or by government departments or unit. Each local union elects its own officers. Local 1072 has eight unpaid officers who represent employees at UMUC and UMCP. Groups of locals are usually organized into councils. In Maryland, Local 1072 and other local unions that represent state employeess are part of AFSCME Council 92. The other council in Maryland, Council 67, represents city and county employees. Local 2250, which represents non-certificated public school employees in Prince Georges County, is not affiliated with a council. All locals are granted charters by the International Union and are affiliated with it. Members from each local elect delegates to Council and International Conventions which set policy for the union. Delegates to conventions also elect Executive Boards for the council and the International to handle policy decisions on an on-going basis. For more information on AFSCME across the country go to www.afscme.org.

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is a coalition of major labor unions which exists to support the work of the labor movement and assist in coordinating activities. For more information on the AFL-CIO, go the their web site at www.workingfamilies.com.

Collective Bargaining is the right of employees to be represented by an exclusive representative for the purposes of negotiating a contract. The process involves filing a petition for election, holding a secret ballot election, and then negotiating the terms and conditions of employment with management. Private employees have had this right since the 1930's and federal employees were given this right by President Kennedy in the 1960's. AFSCME led the fight for collective bargaining for state and higher education employees in Maryland. State employees finally got it by Executive Order in 1996 and by law in 1999. The law for higher education employees passed in 2001.

Collective Bargaining gives employees one united voice. It requires that management meet with the employees and negotiate "in good faith". This means there is a genuine effort to reach an agreement. Typically, before Collective Bargaining, policies are issued with little or no employee input. Once a contract is negotiated, there are enforcement procedures which allow employees to assure that the agreement is honored.

Membership dues are divided between the AFSCME Local, Council and International and the AFL-CIO. Locals use funds for meetings, organizing and outreach. The Councils in Maryland employ staff who support and service the Local Unions. The International provides support to Councils and Locals and works for public employees on the federal level. The AFL-CIO assists in uniting unions to organize for common issues and concerns and helps coordinate activities between unions.