WHEREAS:

AFSCME leaders at all levels are confronted with a wide variety of challenges as they work to build a strong union, organize for membership growth and increased power, fight increasingly vicious right-wing attacks on workers and their unions, defend public services, fight privatization and negotiate strong collective bargaining agreements in addition to myriad other duties and responsibilities; and

WHEREAS:

The increasingly complex political, economic and social environment demands that AFSCME leaders are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to lead AFSCME affiliates forward through change to organize strategies, mobilizing members for active involvement and full participation in union activities, and effective utilization of the union’s resources; and

WHEREAS:

The challenge of preparing a new generation of men and women to assume positions of leadership in the union cannot be adequately addressed through traditional leadership development courses, no matter how intense.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the Department of Education and Leadership Training take the lead in developing the "AFSCME Leadership Academy," an extensive leadership development program including both intensive classroom instruction and practical field experience in all facets of labor leadership, for current and future AFSCME leaders; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Union utilize the unique resources of the Harvard Trade Union Program, the National Labor College of the George Meany Center for Labor Studies and other university-based labor education programs, as well as the internal resources of the International union and its affiliates, to ensure that the AFSCME Leadership Academy provide the highest quality educational experience for its participants.

SUBMITTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD