In Alaska, AFSCME members go public and go to court over state worker staffing crisis
Story published in the AFSCME Blog on February 18, 2025
JUNEAU, Alaska – AFSCME members in Alaska are going public and going to court in their fight to increase staffing at state agencies.
Members of the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52 held a rally at the state Capitol on Valentine’s Day. They drew attention to the fact that state workers are overworked and stressed out and desperately need help to better serve Alaskans.
Earlier in the week, ASEA members filed a lawsuit to force Gov. Mike Dunleavy to release a salary study to the public as state law requires him to do. The study will help people understand how much state workers are paid.
Related Reporting
LISTEN:
Rally on Capitol Steps:
- AFSCME BLOG POST – STATE STAFFING CRISIS (AFSCME Blog)
- Alaska state employees rally for more pay and benefits on same day mass federal firings occur (Juneau Empire, Mark Sabbatini)
- Alaska state workers rally at the Capitol, calling for salary transparency and pension plan (Alaska Beacon, Corinne Smith)
- Public-sector union calls for pension legislation and release of salary study at Capitol rally (Alaska Public Media, Eric Stone)
ASEA Lawsuit:
- Union sues Dunleavy administration over delays in the release of a salary study (ADN, Iris Samuels)
- Alaska union sues over state’s failure to disclose public employee salary study (Alaska Beacon, James Brooks)
- Dunleavy administration manipulated wage study to keep underpaying workers, lawsuit alleges (The Alaska Memo)
- Union seeks court order to release $1 million buried state salary study (Reporting From Alaska)