Why Should Violence Against Women Be an Issue for AFSCME?
- It is an issue that directly affects AFSCME members. It is almost a certainty that AFSCME members are among the victims of domestic violence and are among those who batter.
- Many AFSCME members work in professions which deal directly with domestic violence and its consequences. AFSCME members include: police officers and dispatchers who must respond to emergency calls involving domestic violence incidents; social workers who counsel victims and assist them in obtaining services; attorneys representing both victims and batterers; medical service personnel who treat victims; and corrections officers who deal with inmates who are either batterers or victims who killed or assaulted their batterers. These professionals have much to contribute to increasing public understanding about domestic violence and can provide valuable guidance to policy makers.
- Many AFSCME members are at risk of being victims of workplace violence. AFSCME has materials on that specific issue. However, it should be noted that domestic violence is the genesis of many incidents of workplace violence, e.g., a worker is shot by a violent partner who also shoots other employees, or a batterer who has just lost custody of the children shoots the social worker who testified against him.
- Domestic violence may be a factor in on-the-job problems, including excessive absenteeism, abuse of sick leave or poor job performance. When these problems result in disciplinary actions, AFSCME stewards must become involved.