WHEREAS:
Support for unions has been rising for more than a decade, and two-thirds of Americans now approve of labor unions; and
WHEREAS:
Organizing opportunities are abundant across the country and organized labor represents 10% of the workforce; and
WHEREAS:
Even though the National Labor Relations Board is defending workers’ rights at a level unseen in decades, employer opposition remains an impediment to organizing efforts, and remedies for violating U.S. labor laws remain inadequate; and
WHEREAS:
It is AFSCME’s mission to expand collective bargaining rights to the millions of public sector employees nationwide who are unfairly denied those rights; and
WHEREAS:
Organizing to increase membership has a direct impact on AFSCME’s strength and ability to win improvements for members; and
WHEREAS:
At the September 2023 AFSCME Leadership Summit, members of the International Executive Board and other affiliate leaders developed the 2024 AFSCME Strong Strategic Priorities, which call on AFSCME and its affiliates to:
- Pursue membership growth through internal and external organizing;
- Build power through collective bargaining and political and legislative action; and
- Utilize communications, innovations and best practices that support union building.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates will aggressively pursue external organizing opportunities to give voice to workers in the public and private sectors; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME and its affiliates will identify, recruit and develop volunteer member organizers (VMOs) to participate in external organizing campaigns including those coordinated by the International Union; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That our union will commit to internal organizing in order to increase membership and PEOPLE contributors in AFSCME-represented workplaces, including through the New Employee Outreach (NEO) program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue to seek collective bargaining rights for all public sector workers in states that currently do not extend such rights to public employees; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports the adoption of policies such as “labor peace” agreements to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of quality public services; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we use our political power to drive a proactive legislative agenda that promotes AFSCME’s growth, such as union recognition through card check, and hold politicians accountable when they obstruct those efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That we continue building union-wide communications capacity to support AFSCME’s growth; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That our union remains committed to AFSCME Strong to protect and expand collective bargaining rights, increase membership and raise labor standards across the country in our fight for economic and workplace fairness for all workers.
SUBMITTED BY: International Executive Board