WE DEMAND A LITTLE RESPECT

In 1977, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) played a significant role in labor movements in Georgia, particularly in Atlanta. One of the most notable events was the Atlanta sanitation strike, which began on March 28, 1977. AFSCME Local 1644 led the strike, demanding a $0.50 hourly wage increase for sanitation workers.

Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson resisted the strike, firing over 900 workers on April 1. Despite community support, many workers returned to their jobs by April 16, and the strike officially ended on April 29, 1977. The strike was part of a broader pattern of labor activism in the Southeastern U.S., where sanitation workers—many of whom were African American—fought for better wages and working conditions.