WHEREAS:

The requirement of Federal Executive Order 11246 that federal governmental contractors take "affirmative actions to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment without regard to their race, creed, color, sex or national origin" is the genesis of the civil rights remedy known as affirmative action; and

WHEREAS:

In striving to devise productive remedies for proven discrimination, courts and administrative enforcement agencies have adopted this concept of affirmative action; and

WHEREAS:

Most employers in America have now analyzed the racial and sexual makeup of their work forces and have, where necessary, voluntarily adopted affirmative action plans to cure obvious deficiencies of representation; and

WHEREAS:

As any plan of action requires measurable objectives to determine achievement, so too, affirmative action plans generally include goals toward which the plan aims, the timetables within which the goals of the plan will be met; and

WHEREAS:

The National League of Cities, The National Association of Counties, the National Association of Manufacturers, as well as the Secretary of Labor and other organizations and institutions have all gone on record supporting the concept of both voluntary and court-ordered affirmative action plans, including goals and timetables; and

WHEREAS:

The entire concept of taking affirmative action against racial and sexual discrimination is under attack by the Department of Justice — led personally by Attorney General Meese — and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Both of these agencies exist for the purpose of enforcing the laws of the land, but under Ronald Reagan have become opponents of all quantifiable remedies of discrimination; and

WHEREAS:

The United States Supreme Court in Wygant vs. Jackson Board of Education has affirmed the principle that government employers may take race into account in establishing affirmative action measures in order to remedy prior discrimination; and

WHEREAS:

In each of the two additional lawsuits before the Supreme Court the challenge to affirmative action is being brought on behalf of white employees who believe that their rights are being ignored in the interests of affirmative action.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this 27th International Convention reaffirms AFSCME's commitment to the concept of both voluntary and court-ordered affirmative action to eradicate discrimination including the establishment of goals and timetables; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME affiliates, with assistance from the International Union, where appropriate, will support members who have been discriminated against in the workplace by pursuing administrative and/or legal actions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals will vigorously pursue affirmative action at the bargaining table to ensure that public employers maintain personnel systems that do not discriminate against anyone by virtue of their race, sex, national origin, creed, color, age, disability or sexual orientation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will continue to fight the offensive against civil rights law enforcement that is being mounted by the Reagan Administration; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge state federations and councils and locals affiliated with AFSCME AFL-CIO to develop an Affirmative Action Plan to enforce the responsibility to AFSCME's members, and "ensure that affirmative action is not just talked about, but is translated into a reality" in the councils, locals and workplaces covered by AFSCME contracts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge that each affiliate designate and train and individual who will vigorously pursue equal rights protection for all members; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will continue to support enforcement of civil rights for all workers.

SUBMITTED BY:

Taylor Rogers, President
Council Edwards, Secretary-Treasurer
AFSCME Local 1733
Memphis, Tennessee

Women's Committees of Councils 24, 40, and 48

Irene Herron-Steeger, Chairperson
Council 24, Madison, Wisconsin

Marcella McCallum, Chairperson
Council 40, Madison, Wisconsin

Paula Dorsey, Chairperson
Council 48, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Joe Kreuser International Vice President
President, Council 40
Madison, Wisconsin

William T Armstrong, President
Jacquelyn Dancer, Secretary
Felton Joshua, Sr., Vice President
Albert F Cushion, Treasurer
Local 3163, Council 28
Seattle, Washington