WHEREAS:

            The American dream is put in jeopardy by an economy that only rewards the 1 percent; and

WHEREAS:

            The richest 400 Americans make as much money as 150 million of their fellow citizens; and

WHEREAS:

            It is more and more difficult for working families to put food on the table, obtain decent housing, and afford education.  A secure retirement is out of reach for far too many; and

WHEREAS:

            American workers in both the public and private sector continue to face attacks from well-funded corporate foes; and

WHEREAS:

            A strengthened labor movement is the only way to reverse these trends; and

WHEREAS:

            Expanding the ranks of our union is critical to building our power; and

WHEREAS:

            A changing economy demands new approaches to organizing workers; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME has long been a leader in the labor movement in our commitment to organizing.  We organized over 300,000 members over the last decade.  We continued to grow during some of the toughest years for workers ever in our history; during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.  Last year, we organized over 7,300 home care workers in the biggest union victory in Vermont history and the largest anywhere in the country in 2013; and 

WHEREAS:

            Under the Power to Win plan, we have built the foundation for unprecedented growth. The Power to Win plan sets a goal of 5 percent annual growth across AFSCME with the international union organizing program creating the capacity to grow the union by 2 percent of its membership annually and councils’ programs building the capacity for 3 percent growth of their membership every year; and

            The 50,000 Stronger campaign has demonstrated our ability to mobilize Volunteer Member Organizers and organize workers on a massive scale.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            We will continue to organize workers, including those who currently lack collective bargaining rights, such as public employees in the South, independent providers and taxi drivers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            We will diligently organize any public service work that is subcontracted to a private vendor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            We will recommit at every level of the union to meet our Power to Win organizing goals; including affiliates growing by 3 percent annually and the national union achieving a 2 percent growth goal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            We will unleash the power we built through the 50,000 Stronger campaign to organize the unorganized like never before; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            Our Green Army of Volunteer Member Organizers will be deployed to organize new members across the nation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            We will work with other unions and allies to organize on the scale needed to overcome the challenges we face.  Together we will rebuild the labor movement and win social and economic justice.