WHEREAS:

In 1974, the U.S. Congress, at the urging of AFSCME, amended federal Hatch Act provisions affecting state and local government employees working in agencies supported by federal funds; and

WHEREAS:

The federal law now permits state and local employees to voluntarily work on their own time for candidates for public office unless prevented from doing so by state law or local ordinance; and

WHEREAS:

Most states and localities which have reviewed their own laws regulating the political activities of public employees in the last several years have amended them to permit heretofore prohibited activity; and

WHEREAS:

Many states continue to bar all public employees, or categories of public employees, from participating in political action.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and local unions utilize their PEOPLE committees to lobby their state and local governments and legislators to lift remaining restrictions on voluntary political activity by public employees on their own time, including the holding of elected political offices, and prohibitions against voluntary political contributions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME call upon the Congress to review efforts to reform the federal Hatch Act to remove limitations on voluntary political activities by employees of the federal government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME undertake whatever legal actions where appropriate to gain full political freedom and first class citizenship status for all public employees.

SUBMITTED BY:

James E. Mundy, Delegate
Local 2477, Council 26
Washington, DC