WHEREAS:

Public sector employees in many states are still struggling to win the basic rights and protections gained by private sector workers under the National Labor Relations Act over 57 years ago; and

WHEREAS:

A confusing conglomeration of state laws, local ordinances and executive orders characterize public sector labor relations, with no equitable and uniform standards; and

WHEREAS:

In 1992, 33 years after passage of the first state law, New Mexico became only the twenty-third state to enact a comprehensive collective bargaining law for public employees. Thirteen states have no state legislation for any bargaining whatsoever. In the remaining states, the picture is mixed, with certain groups of public workers having full bargaining rights and others very limited rights; and

WHEREAS:

Over two million federal employees are denied the legal right to bargain collectively over salaries and other economic conditions; and

WHEREAS:

The world community, through the International Labor Organization (ILO) is currently investigating the failure of the U.S. government to assure the basic right of free association to its public employees; and

WHEREAS:

The constitutional basis for the enactment of federal collective bargaining legislation which would afford state and local government employees the basic rights already enjoyed by private sector workers has been firmly established by the Supreme Court of the United States.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME affirms its support for enactment of federal legislation to establish a rational framework extending full collective bargaining rights to all state and local government employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That until such federal legislation is enacted, AFSCME will work in individual state and local jurisdictions to achieve legislation giving public sector workers full rights and protections to organize and bargain collectively; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME supports enactment of federal legislation to extend the right to bargain collectively over salaries and other economic conditions of employment to federal employees.

SUBMITTED BY:

William Hudson, Jr, President
Daniel Turner, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Council 92
Maryland