WHEREAS:

            This resolution’s intent is to provide a program to older children of delegates and alternates who attend union conventions and conferences, as the current cutoff for child participation is 12 years of age; and

WHEREAS:

            Our union children continue to grow older; they will be entering the work force in the upcoming years striving toward a decent standard of living. They too will endure the struggle for justice for workers, the right to collectively bargain, living wages, affordable health care, and a secure retirement. We hope they will be credited with the assistance of building a great society and middle class in our country; and

WHEREAS:

            It has been researched that a person’s early experiences in life can significantly influence attitudes and involvements later in life: positive images of the union should start in the home and with the family. We cannot expect our children of today to acquire a sense of labor’s contributions through osmosis, or rely on the media, culture, or the schools to get the labor message out; and

WHEREAS:

            When a union parent conveys this message personally to their children, as well as the rest of their family, a special emphasis is placed on the relevance to unions’ accomplishments, both past and present; and

WHEREAS:

            Union members should bring the union home, discuss union activities, share the benefits of a negotiated contract, and make union publications available; instilling in our children how unions bring fairness, equality, and dignity to a workplace. Young people who are aware of their parents’ involvement in unions are far more likely to hold positive perspectives about unions. For this reason, union members and unions should make an effort to involve family members in union activities, conventions, and conferences; and

WHEREAS:

            When you include your family in union activities, this allows families to spend more time together and recognize what is accomplished on union business.  It also presents an opportunity for the union to educate our children about the value of unions in America. Since the labor movement draws its present and future membership from these individuals, it would be beneficial to afford the families with programs for their older children.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME International explore the possibility of providing some type of educational program or activity for those children 13 and above at conventions and conferences and introducing the above topics into the existing child care programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That such a plan would allow these children to not be left out of the solidarity in the labor movement and prepare them to be active labor leaders.