WHEREAS:

            A strong and effective political action program is crucial to the protection and growth of workplace rights for the 1.6 million AFSCME sisters and brothers across the nation; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) is a driving force of the union’s political action program at the federal, state and local levels; and

WHEREAS:

            The union reaffirmed its commitment at the 2012 AFSCME Convention to enroll ten percent of the membership at the PEOPLE MVP level of $100 per year; and

WHEREAS:

            Currently 4 percent of AFSCME members contribute at the MVP level; and

WHEREAS:

            About 95 percent of PEOPLE contributions come from payroll deductions, even as those deductions are under attack; and

WHEREAS:

            Attacks on workers’ rights since 2011 have intensified each year, showing the importance of a strong political action program, funded with PEOPLE contributions; and

WHEREAS:

            The United States Supreme Court continues to make it easier than ever for corporations and the super-rich to contribute their largess to anti-worker politicians; and

WHEREAS:

            The PEOPLE program continues to modernize and enhance the collection and solicitation of contributions and maintenance of the data from contributors.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME members and activists reaffirm our commitment to the union’s political action program, specifically by increasing contributions to the PEOPLE PAC; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME members and activists continue to fight for contract language that will provide for payroll deductions for PEOPLE contributions; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That, by making AFSCME PEOPLE a part of every conversation with our sisters and brothers, AFSCME members and activists work toward the goal of getting ten percent of all members enrolled as PEOPLE MVPs.