WHEREAS:

            Education is continuous and vital to our members’ ability to keep up with the ever-changing job requirements; and

WHEREAS:

            More and more community based/non-profit agencies, represented by our affiliates, are expanding their funding sources and programs to include job titles that require additional licensing or certificates, such as state licensing for substance abuse/alcoholism counseling, statutory courses for child/day care, Head Start, home care and direct care workers; and

WHEREAS:

            To acquire these licenses and certificates our members must pay tuition; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of our members who are day care or Head Start workers, or other human service workers, must acquire a baccalaureate and or master’s degree through accredited two- or four-year tuition curriculums; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of our members in these fields are making an average salary of $25,000 - $30,000 and have limited personal funds to pay for tuition; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of our members face the serious threat of losing their jobs if they do not acquire the necessary credentials and/or upgrade their skills, and

WHEREAS:

            Many AFSCME affiliates don’t have education departments or, those that do have these departments have recently faced severe cutbacks in their programs and are unable to provide these courses for free or at a reduced fee; and

WHEREAS:

            Many of these courses can only be provided by an accredited education institute that requires tuition; and

WHEREAS:

            Many AFSCME affiliates do not have a scholarship fund or adequate scholarship funds to assist members with tuition; and

WHEREAS:

            The International Union offers a number of scholarships for members and provides some training, on-site and at conferences and through webinars, to help members build job-related skills and maintain certificates or licenses.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That the International and its Department of Education and Leadership Training continue its AFSCME members scholarship programs and adequately fund these programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That the International Union continue to provide training to help members build job-related skills and acquire or maintain certificates or license and explore ways to expand those training offerings.