WHEREAS:

Local, state, and federal anti-worker initiatives and legislation in the form of "paycheck protection" and its other variations are designed to discourage America's working women and men from participating in our nation's political process; and

WHEREAS:

Local, state, and federal anti-worker initiatives and legislation are designed to create an uneven playing field by imposing burdensome and cumbersome recordkeeping requirements on our nation's labor unions, without imposing similar burdens on corporations; and

WHEREAS:

Local, state, and federal initiatives and legislation are funded and organized by wealthy, right-wing extremists who have been open about their desire to end political activity by unions and silence the voices of working Americans; and

WHEREAS:

The real purpose behind these efforts is to undermine the ability of labor unions to participate in the electoral process and communicate with their members so that proponents can repeal the minimum wage, abolish workplace health and safety standards, destroy the traditional 40-hour work week, and generally undermine the advances made on behalf of working Americans by labor unions; and

WHEREAS:

Local, state and federal initiatives and legislation fail to reduce the influence of money on our political process; and

WHEREAS:

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Communications Workers of America v. Beck already gives workers the right to request a refund of dues paid in excess of the amount spent directly in support of collective bargaining.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME International, its affiliates and members commit themselves to working to stop any and all so called "paycheck protection" initiatives or legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME International, its affiliates and members work to educate the general public about these anti-worker initiatives and legislation.

SUBMITTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD