WHEREAS:

            More than 50 million Americans have at least one disability, and millions of people with disabilities require long-term services and supports in nursing homes, developmental centers, community-based facilities, or their own homes; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME recognizes the need to invest in the services required to ensure equality of opportunities and high quality of life for people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS:

            The needs of people with disabilities are best served by a high quality system of services and support that includes sufficiently staffed and financed nursing homes,  developmental centers, community programs and home care services provided by organized workers; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME is a leader in representing employees working in nursing homes,  developmental centers, home health care agencies, and community settings providing vital services to people with disabilities; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME is a leading advocate for a broad continuum of quality long term services and supports for people with disabilities and has led the fight against budget cuts and attempts to weaken quality standards.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME continue its commitment to advocating for quality long term services and supports provided by AFSCME members for people with disabilities, and the funding which makes them possible; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME work on common goals with coalition partners  to preserve Medicaid funding at the federal and state levels and to identify new funding streams to expand vital services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME continue working to improve job security and working conditions for care providers in all environments to eliminate injuries to workers, overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate training; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME will work to ensure that the Department of Labor rule applying Fair Labor Standards Act protections to home care workers will be implemented in all 50 states without delay and implemented in a way that preserves the rights of workers and consumers while recognizing that this critical workforce has been underpaid and undervalued for too long and cannot wait any longer for basic labor protections; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME work with councils and locals to organize the unorganized workers in community-based facilities and agencies while continuing to expose abuses perpetrated by profiteers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME affiliates will work to ensure that the spirit and intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its supporting regulations are enforced so that discrimination against people with disabilities is eliminated and people have the opportunity to live in the most integrated settings possible; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That the International closely monitor proposed legislation, regulations, and policy changes to ensure that funding for the continuum of long term services and supports, along with  satisfactory worker protections and a publicly accountable safety net, is preserved.