Resolution No: 30
31st International Convention
June 27-July 1, 1994
San Diego, CA

ORGANIZING THE UNORGANIZED

WHEREAS:

            Delegates to past AFSCME conventions have repeatedly emphasized the importance of organizing in maintaining the strength of AFSCME across the country; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME has a strong tradition of both effective and broad based organizing efforts; and

WHEREAS:

            The key to future growth lies in an organizing program that focuses on our traditional jurisdiction of public sector employees, as well as on other quasi-public and private employees who perform work of a public service nature; and

WHEREAS:

            Delegates to the 30th AFSCME Convention in Las Vegas adopted a resolution setting forth a nine part program to target AFSCME's organizing efforts.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME reaffirm our organizing goals in the following nine areas:

  1. Fighting for the enactment of public employee collective bargaining laws in states that continue to treat public employees like second class citizens.

  2. Pursuing effective internal organizing campaigns to reach our fullest potential within our existing locals.

  3. Organizing hospital and health care workers in both the public and private sectors.

  4. Overcoming union busting practices in states which have a traditional anti-public employee atmosphere.

  5. Beating back decertifications and other challenges to AFSCME's representation rights in established bargaining units.

  6. Organizing higher education employees in both the public and private sectors.

  7. Expanding our organizing of new bargaining units in collective bargaining states.

  8. Continuing efforts to bring independent associations into the AFSCME family through affiliation.

  9. Organize private sector agencies in mental health, mental retardation, social services and other areas where privatization and deinstitutionalization have deprived workers of union representation, decent wages and decent benefits.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the delegates of the 31st AFSCME Convention take up President Gerald W. McEntee's challenge to organize and grow to be the largest union in organized labor by the 1996 — 32nd International Convention.

SUBMITTED BY:      

Tracey Abman, Delegate
AFSCME Local 432, Council 31
Illinois