WHEREAS:

            One of AFSCME's continuing commitments is to the solidarity of the trade union movement; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME members have demonstrated that commitment by supporting struggles by their trade union sisters and brothers to achieve decent and fair bargaining objectives; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME's President serves on the Strategic Approaches Committee of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, which is charged with mobilizing the support of the entire labor movement whenever an affiliate faces a critical organizing or bargaining dispute; and

WHEREAS:

            In all of its efforts to support fellow trade union members in their struggles AFSCME has never differentiated between public and private sectors, and has made it clear by its actions that our support of workers in the private sector is a fundamental principle of our trade union commitment; and

WHEREAS:

            AFSCME has expected to receive a fair hearing from the public boards and agencies with which it negotiates, especially from the trade unionists who are members of such agencies; and

WHEREAS:

            That expectation has not always been met, and private sector trade unionists who serve on public agencies too often fail to extend to AFSCME the same consideration on requests for decent salaries and working conditions that they expect AFSCME to support for their own members.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME reaffirm its historic commitment to supporting the legitimate aspirations and struggles of all members of the labor movement, private and public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME make it clear to private sector unions in the AFL-CIO that it expects the same level of solidarity when issues of public employee working conditions are under consideration in public agencies on which representatives of such union serve; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That in view of AFSCME's full participation in AFL-CIO State Federations, AFSCME leadership make full use of such organizations to educate private sector unions about AFSCME's programs and activities and to achieve as much solidarity as possible; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That a copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the AFL-CIO for submission to the next AFL-CIO convention for debate and consideration by the delegates.

SUBMITTED BY:

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD