AFSCME Local 171 supports election defense efforts
The membership of AFSCME Local 171 voted on September 10, 2026 to adopt the following resolution:
Whereas: The Trump administration has made it clear, particularly through its espousal of the undemocratic SAVE Act and FBI raids on voting rights organizations and even election offices, that it intends to use every means at its disposal to interfere with the midterm elections, including potentially the deployment of ICE agents at voting sites, although at this time it remains unclear to what extent it will be capable of actually coordinating this interference.
Whereas: Our power as workers is the last line of defense for the political and economic rights of working people. In January, workers in Minneapolis shut down the city to push back ICE operations in Minnesota. In 2024, workers in Korea took economic action and prevented an authoritarian coup d’etat. Only workers have the power to win the battle for democracy in the United States.
Therefore be it resolved:
That AFSCME Local 171 condemns threats of election interference and moves towards further voter disenfranchisement as an attack against our democratic rights and another step towards fascism.
Be it further resolved:
AFSCME Local 171 would consider a potential attack on the midterm elections an emergency warranting immediate and decisive action by our union and all organizations of the working class, calling upon us to unite and use any and all levers of economic and political leverage in order to defeat this attack.
Be it further resolved:
That AFSCME Local 171 will participate in election defense efforts initiated by AFSCME Council 32 and by the South Central Federation of Labor, and will additionally work to assess the extent of the election threat in our area, before and after Election Day, determining any ways that our members and our communities can organize to assert our right to vote.
Be it further resolved:
Election Defense activities may include, but are not limited to:
- Encouraging members to canvass and vote for pro-worker candidates
- Doing poll-site visibility for pro-worker candidates on Election Day
- Ensuring members are present at poll sites to deter voter intimidation
- Ensuring members are prepared to vote, by pairing up members and using a buddy system
- Preparing a mobilization plan to reach and activate as many members as possible in the event of serious election interference
Be it further resolved:
That AFSCME Local 171 will prioritize the defense of communities that are historically and currently most targeted by voter disenfranchisement and racist terror, specifically Black, immigrant, and other communities of color.
Be it further resolved:
Should credible proof of serious election interference come to light, the local President shall within 48 hours call an emergency meeting of the local to discuss immediate collective actions members of the local and the community may take.
Be it further resolved:
Within seven (7) days of the passage of this resolution, our union shall notify all members in good standing of the passage of this resolution, and transmit a copy of this resolution to our Central Labor Council, state labor federation, and to our international union.