WHEREAS:

Women represent almost half of the workforce in the United States, and women members currently comprise 56 percent of AFSCME’s 1.6 million members; and

WHEREAS:
The inclusion, involvement and education of women are critical to the current and future success of AFSCME; and

WHEREAS:
Our proud AFSCME sisters should be given every opportunity to articulate and assert their needs and concerns, build equality, and empower women, workers to assume positions of leadership; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME encourages women’s activism and provides training for leaders and organizers on strategies that can effectively address the obstacles facing women, while developing flexible options for participation to increase knowledge, skills and abilities to move into higher levels of leadership and strengthen our union; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME will hold regional women’s conferences starting in 2011 as a way to support and develop women activists and leaders; and

WHEREAS:
The majority of AFSCME members are women and are still under-represented in leadership positions at all levels.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME increase its commitment to programs that develop women’s leadership capabilities and afford them more opportunities to practice leadership skills and address gender-specific challenges women face; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME conduct an assessment of the current state of women’s leadership development at the major affiliate level and focus our resources on helping to build, create and expand affiliate-based programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will support the organizing efforts and membership of the national Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) by participating in CLUW chapters in states and cities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME seek to have its leadership bodies at every level of the union reflect its growing majority female membership in order to continue growth for a more diverse union.

SUBMITTED BY:
Mary Goulding, President and Delegate
AFSCME Council 40
Wisconsin