Lee Saunders to Retire After 15 Years Leading AFSCME Amid Growing Political Tensions
Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), traveled to Alaska in March to meet local union leaders advocating for the reinstatement of a state employee pension system. Alaska closed its public retirement program in 2006 following a multibillion-dollar shortfall, resulting in double-digit vacancy rates across state agencies 20 years later that compromised public safety and services. Although the state legislature passed a bipartisan bill in April to restart the retirement program, Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy vetoed the legislation in May.
The Paradox of High Public Favor and Waning Union Power
The legislative failure in Alaska reflects broader tensions defining Mr. Saunders’ tenure, during which public-sector unions faced rising opposition from political leaders despite a national resurgence in public support. A 2025 Gallup poll indicated that 65 percent of Americans approve of labor unions—up from a low of 48 percent in 2009—even as union membership percentages declined and courts and legislatures eroded labor power. Alexander Hertel-Fernandez, a Columbia University political scientist, described this dynamic as a reflection of a broken political economy where policy choices have weakened the labor movement.
Navigating Internal Divisions and Landmark Legal Challenges
At age 75, Mr. Saunders plans to retire in August after a 50-year career with AFSCME, including 15 years as its national president. He took office in 2010 during a crisis for state and municipal workers caused by the Great Recession, which prompted severe attacks on public-sector jobs, pay, and benefits from Republican governors and conservative organizations. The pressure intensified following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting public-sector unions from compelling non-members to pay dues or fair-share fees. Despite internal divisions over serving nonpaying workers and demands from some members following George Floyd’s murder to remove law-enforcement groups, Mr. Saunders maintained an inclusive approach to preserve the union’s collective strength across diverse professions.
Strategic Legislative Deals and Broad Economic Focus
Operating from the union’s Washington headquarters, Mr. Saunders leveraged relationships with Democratic leaders to help shape the $1.9 trillion stimulus package passed in 2021 following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Defending public-sector workers against criticisms of inefficiency, he emphasized that government employees possess vital insight into eliminating waste without compromising wages and benefits. As he prepares to step down, Mr. Saunders has redirected public focus toward growing economic anger directed at large corporations and big tech companies, urging workers to reject divisive strategies that target the working class.
