WHEREAS:
AFSCME’s 1.4 million members are the heart and soul of our union. Our past achievements and our future successes depend on trained and mobilized members, who know their union is fighting for them and who are willing and able to fight for their union; and

WHEREAS:
Employers will respect our union only if we are a vital force in every workplace. Elected officials will champion our union only if we are a political power in the streets, at the ballot box and in the legislatures; and

WHEREAS:
The essential core of the labor movement is the vibrant and vigorous local union whose leaders, stewards, and members are engaged in the local’s activities; and

WHEREAS:
To become activists, AFSCME members need skills, information and support.  Education and training are needed to provide union officers, stewards and activists with the skills, abilities, and motivation to make their locals vibrant and vigorous; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME has developed training programs, such as Stewards in Action, the Executive Board Institute and our member educator curriculum, to give local union leaders the skills and knowledge they need to effectively build the union.  These basic union education programs lay the foundation for participation in more advanced leadership training; and

WHEREAS:
Beyond these programs, AFSCME must make a long-term commitment to provide members with the skills, education and training they need to become activists and to equip leaders and staff to develop and support member activists. Member education and leadership development must be built into everything we do.
 
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That each council and large, unaffiliated local union develop and maintain the internal capacity to conduct such essential programs as board, officer and steward training, and training on internal organizing and member mobilizing; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That such education and training programs be delivered by full-time education staff, staff representatives who have the skills and ability to conduct training, and member educators who have participated in the week-long AFSCME Member Educator Program, or a combination of these methods; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That each AFSCME council and large unaffiliated local develop an education plan as part of their overall strategic plan, with a priority on making basic union education programs accessible to local union leaders at the grassroots level; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME will create the labor movement’s premier Leadership Institute, to develop and train current and future activists, leaders and staff of our union to be effective advocates for workplace rights, to organize new members and to elect politicians and hold them accountable. Training will incorporate any and all means available including classroom teaching, field projects, on-line learning, actual campaign experience and mentoring and apprenticeships; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
With an army of trained activists, staff and leaders, AFSCME will show this country that it is not just our size that makes us a force to be reckoned with, it is the dedication, commitment and passion of our members.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY:  INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD