WHEREAS:
Attacks on public workers and our unions, including attacks on collective bargaining, employee compensation and the freedom of unions to require all who benefit from the unions’ efforts to participate in paying their fair share of the costs for such efforts are incompatible with the well-being of all workers; and
WHEREAS:
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Janus decision is part of a continuing pattern of the judicial branch of government undermining workers’ rights; and
WHEREAS:
Despite the purchased political influence arrayed against workers and our unions, we are not without determination, power and innovative ideas to fight back and succeed in this difficult environment by working with elected representatives in the executive and legislative branches of government; and
WHEREAS:
Collective bargaining remains in the public interest and is the most powerful tool for workers to exercise our power and achieve our collective aspirations for fair compensation, good working conditions and quality public services; and
WHEREAS:
We must act boldly and with urgency to seek the enactment of public policies to create fair access to workers, safeguard our resources and protect our members from harassment by those who seek to undermine our strength.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME shall continue to work with our partner unions and allies to promote worker and union friendly policies and collective bargaining provisions to build the strength of our union; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will prioritize in bargaining and in legislation the implementation of policies to provide our union with access to the workplaces of the employees we represent and opportunities for new employee and existing member engagement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME shall seek to ensure the exclusive representative of employees has access to contact information for its members, and safeguard such information so that third parties, who do not have a representative relationship, will not harass our members or subject them to unwelcomed solicitations; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will seek and implement:
- Maintenance of dues policies to limit dues and payment revocation periods to promote union financial stability.
- Procedures that provide for the speedy processing of payroll deduction authorization for the payment of dues.
- Policies that validate, where necessary, the use of emerging technologies such as voice authorization and electronic signatures for the authorization of dues deduction and otherwise provide for the facilitation of payments to the union to support our strength and effectiveness.
SUBMITTED BY: International Executive Board