Who we are

We are AFSCME Local 1439 which includes all NHS Human Resources bargaining unit members in Philadelphia, and the counties of Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks. Our local represents both Mental Health professional and non-professional and Mental Retardation non-professional positions.

We are direct care workers, case managers, therapists, nurses, employment specialists, mental health workers, and more. Our negotiation team was made up of NHS employees eligible for the bargaining unit. We became AFSCME Local 1439 as of February 28, 2005 when NHS employees ratified their first contract with an overwhelming 20:1 vote. Our local runs well above 95% membership.

There are over 350,000 health care, mental health, and service employees who have chosen to join AFSCME, which stands for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Nationwide there are more than 1.4 million members. Here in Pennsylvania we are part of AFSCME Council 13 and the southeastern part of the state is designated as District Council 88. We are part of the Non-state division and are the largest Non-state local in Council 13.