WHEREAS:
Organized labor now represents less than 12 percent of the workforce; down from a peak of 35 percent; and

WHEREAS:
The number of organized workers has declined while the number of workers without health care coverage or a decent pension has skyrocketed. Workers’ wages have stagnated while executive pay has risen to unprecedented levels; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME members see the effects of a weakened labor movement every day. Each round of bargaining brings demands for health insurance cutbacks. Our pension benefits are being attacked around the country. Efforts to get reasonable wage increases are met with threats of layoffs or contracting out. Some members have had their collective bargaining rights taken away completely; and

WHEREAS:
We cannot continue to protect our benefits, our wages and our jobs if we are a small and shrinking portion of the workforce. In order to have the power we need to demand dignity and respect for public service workers, we must grow at an unprecedented pace; and

WHEREAS:
Organizing to increase AFSCME membership has a direct impact on the union’s strength and ability to fight and win improvements for our existing members; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME is a union for all workers who provide services funded with tax dollars whether they work for a public body, nonprofit organization or for-profit company; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME’s 21st Century vision calls for dramatic changes that unify and coordinate actions at all levels of the union and deepen our commitment to organizing; and
 
WHEREAS:
AFSCME members are a huge resource -- with talent, dedication and people-power -- yet remain a largely untapped resource for organizing.  AFSCME members have unique knowledge of the problems and issues faced by workers in similar jobs and industries, and the skills learned by members who volunteer on organizing campaigns can be directly applied to strengthening their home local; and

WHEREAS:
The goals of the 21st Century Committee can only be achieved by ensuring that all affiliates are actively engaged in both internal and external organizing efforts.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
This union will invest resources, develop programs and infrastructure and train staff and members to enable us to win representation rights for new groups of workers, equivalent to 5 percent of our membership each year. The International Union will commit to a 2 percent goal annually and each council will commit to 3 percent goal; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue to seek representation rights for all unorganized public sector workers  and to enact  collective bargaining laws in states where they do not currently exist; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will expand its organizing efforts among workers in non-profit and private entities who provide public services, as well as independent service providers and other non-traditional workers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will continue its efforts to develop leveraged strategic campaigns that employ innovative tactics that can combat the aggressive anti-union campaigns invariably waged by private sector employers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That councils, large directly-affiliated locals and the International Union include in their goals, planning, staffing, and resource allocation, the ability to organize new groups of workers and meet these goals every year; and
 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That councils and large directly-affiliated locals create organizing departments that are fully devoted to ongoing campaigns; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the International Union assist in the recruitment and training of organizers and that affiliates participate in these efforts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That councils and large directly-affiliated locals identify, recruit and develop volunteer member organizers (VMOs) and educate the membership on the benefits of organizing and recruitment of VMOs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
An affiliate’s success in meeting its organizing goals shall be considered by the International Union in determining whether to provide assistance in other areas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That councils and large directly-affiliated locals coordinate political and organizing functions to make support of organizing a key component of political action; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
We must also organize the workers we already represent. Local unions are the front line for internal organizing. Locals that have collective bargaining rights will commit to achieving 90 percent membership. Locals that have collective bargaining rights but are hampered by right to work laws will commit to achieving 70 percent membership. Locals without collective bargaining rights will commit to achieving majority membership; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
Not only must we organize harder, we must organize smarter. The International Union will target key industries and employers, run strategic campaigns and organize non-traditional workers in the public service.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY:  INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD