WHEREAS:

            Challenges to privatization and campaigns to protect collective bargaining and public services are most successful when AFSCME joins with other organizations who share our goals; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME is committed to expanding the Main Street Movement by building coalitions with those in our communities who share our deep concerns about privatization and with those who believe that collective bargaining is a basic human right; and

WHEREAS:

            Diverse issues and service-specific coalitions have successfully stopped prison privatization in Florida, library service cuts in Los Angeles and the unraveling of public sector collective bargaining in Ohio; and

WHEREAS:

            Our message resonates forcefully when we engage a variety of community partners working towards a common goal for the good of our members, their families, their community and for those most vulnerable in our society; and

WHEREAS:

            The effective use of social networking tools and mobile technology were a notable feature of these campaigns and helped spread the coalitions’ messages far and wide.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME will continue to build upon the success we have achieved through working with coalitions to fight privatization and protect collective bargaining and public services.  AFSCME will reach out to potential partners with divergent interests in order to build the strongest coalitions and networks possible for the future challenges that may face us; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That this 40th AFSCME International Convention thanks our coalition partners for standing with us in these struggles and resolves to stand with them in theirs.