WHEREAS:

The nation's unemployment insurance program was established in the 1930s to protect unemployed workers until they can either be rehired or find new employment; and

WHEREAS:

The 1976 amendments extended coverage to state and local government employees, but permitted states to deny benefits between school terms to employees of public schools, and over half the states have done so. In addition, employees of non-profit organizations and small businesses, as well as significant numbers of agricultural and domestic workers, still are not covered, and

WHEREAS:

In 1980 and 1981 the Congress slashed existing unemployment insurance protections for covered workers. It drastically eroded the extended benefits program by eliminating the national trigger, increasing individual state triggers and excluding extended benefits claimants from state unemployment figures in the calculation of state triggers. In addition, extended benefits recipients now can be forced to take minimum wage jobs; and

WHEREAS:

Continued high unemployment rates in many states are seriously eroding unemployment insurance funds, causing some to call into question the current federal-state partnership and to consider various ways to turn back more control of the system to the states. In addition, the inclusion of the unemployment insurance trust funds in the unified federal budget since 1968 has caused the Administration and Congress to make cuts in the unemployment insurance program part of their budget-cutting strategies; and

WHEREAS:

It is inequitable to deny unemployment compensation protection to certain groups of workers because of the nature of their employment; and

WHEREAS:

It is unconscionable to reduce unemployment insurance protections while unemployment rates remain high and to cause economic hardship for millions of workers who have no control over and no responsibility for economic downturns; and

WHEREAS:

Continued funding instability and financial weakness could jeopardize the unemployment insurance system.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this 27th International Convention urge Congress to take appropriate action to provide unemployment insurance coverage to all Americans, and in particular, to repeal the restrictions on benefits between school terms to public school employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the Congress to repeal the restrictive provisions adopted in 1980 and 1981 and to adopt a permanent program of federal supplemental benefits providing at least 65 weeks of benefits financed from general revenues which would either eliminate triggers or, at least, use total unemployment rather than insured unemployment as the trigger, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the Congress to restore financial solvency to the system without cuts in benefits through such methods as the reinsurance mechanism recommended by the National Commission on Unemployment Compensation, requiring states to increase the taxable wage base to 65 percent of the average annual wage by 1990, and allowing flexibility in repaying loans by the states during high unemployment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to urge Congress to improve the system by adopting a national minimum benefit equal to at least 66 2/3 percent of the state average weekly wage. In the meantime, AFSCME urges the states to remove harsh eligibility provisions and at least to restore, and if possible increase weekly benefits and benefit duration periods; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge Congress to remove the unemployment insurance trust fund from the unified federal budget.

SUBMITTED BY:

Robert A. Brindza
International Vice President
Columbus, Ohio