WHEREAS:

The public’s confidence in government’s ability to provide efficient and effective government is at an all time low; and

WHEREAS:

Government is being challenged with respect to its ability to provide valued public services or whether it should provide many services traditionally performed by public employees; and

WHEREAS:

Management has designed the system that is faulted by taxpayers and according to the grandfather of the quality movement, Edward Deming, at least 85% of the problems in producing quality products or services are the result of the system, not the workers; and

WHEREAS:

Quick fixes such as privatization, "reinventing government," and "reengineering government" often do not fix the problems or involve satisfactory union input and public employees remain seriously at risk; and

WHEREAS:

The value of involving line workers in evaluating and designing their roles is an underlying theme relating to the union’s struggle to gain a voice on the job; and

WHEREAS:

Traditional issues that the union takes to the bargaining table often cannot resolve the serious problems with bureaucratic decision making and multiple layers of management that add no value, or eliminate other barriers to successful agency performance; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME’s participation in a continuous improvement process is conditioned upon job security protections for those who participate in quality improvement initiatives; and

WHEREAS:

Management cannot correct the system without worker involvement and since the quality of public services is inextricably linked to worker job security and the quality of work life, therefore quality is much too important to leave to management.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals participate where the institution of the union is recognized as an independent voice and partner in workplace change initiatives to ensure that management does quality right; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will provide the necessary guidance and investment with respect to training union leadership and union rank and file so they are prepared to act as full partners and provide the leadership necessary to create valued public services that help assure job security and better working conditions, to increase the union voice of AFSCME and its members.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President and Delegate 
Vanessa Tolliver, Secretary-Treasurer and Delegate 
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Ohio