AFSCME was formed in 1932 as our country was suffering through a severe economic depression. A small group of white-collar professional state employees met in Madison, Wisconsin and formed what would later become Wisconsin State Employees Union/Council 24. The reason for the group’s creation was simple: to promote, defend and enhance the civil service system. They also were determined to help spread the civil service system across the country.

In the early 1940's AFSCME planted the union flag in Northern New England, organizing corrections workers including Suffolk County Corrections Local 419, which stands today as the oldest AFSCME Local in Massachusetts. As the union continued to grow in Massachusetts, Council 41 and Council 45 were granted charters by AFSCME in 1945. Council 45 represented all municipal employees in the City of Boston and Suffolk County while Council 41 was responsible for fighting to improve the wages benefits and working conditions of all other state and municipal locals in Massachusetts.

Around the same time in 1945, AFSCME moved into Maine and New Hampshire with the formation of Local 926: Bangor, ME City Employees; and Local 365: Nashua, New Hampshire City Employees.

In 1953, AFSCME established a foothold in Vermont when Rutland and Addison County municipal employees organized to form Local 1201.

Steady growth in Maine and New Hampshire led the International Union to charter New Hampshire Council 69 in 1965. One year later, in 1966, Maine Council 74 was chartered.

In 1977, Massachusetts Councils 41 and 45 merged to form Council 93. Eight years later in 1985, Maine Council 74 and New Hampshire Council 68 were merged with Council 93. AFSCME members in Vermont became part of the Council 93 family in 1992.

Today, AFSCME Council 93 stands as a more than 45,000 member labor powerhouse representing what is perhaps the most diverse array of job titles in any union. The union continues to grow as does its influence and power at the bargaining table, and in electoral politics and the corridors of government.

Read more about who we represent here.