A Tale of Two Cities

Facing a barrage of nationwide attacks on public employee unions, AFSCME, the largest union in the AFL-CIO, went on the offensive in 12 battleground states.

During a four-month embed as AFSCME's NY State Communications Director, Art engaged in high-profile battles with both Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

In Albany, it was a plan to slash pensions for new state workers by 40%; in NYC the Mayor had vowed to eliminate Head Start and child care funding for 47,000 low-income kids.

Scope of Work: Strategy, messaging, executive writing, press releases, editing, earned media, print ads, media event production.

Strategy: In Albany, AFSCME activated old and new media platforms, from billboards and giant stuffed rats to mobile ads.  In New York City, press events were targeted at local media (and politicians) in all five boroughs.

Results:  AFSCME won the fight in NYC. Child care for 47,000 kids -- along with their teachers' jobs -- was restored to the city budget. In Albany, we fought the Governor to a bitter draw. Pension privatization and half of the proposed pension cuts were defeated.

Client: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)