WHEREAS:

State and local government employees will continue to face the specter of privatization and its devastating effects on their families’ standard of living; and

WHEREAS:

Many politicians continue to believe that the magic cure all to the fiscal woes of their states and municipalities lies in the private sector; and

WHEREAS:

The International Executive Board has proposed an amendment to the International Constitution, Article IX, Section 5 in order to increase the minimum dues rate and the International Union per capita tax; and

WHEREAS:

This increase is proposed to battle the forces promoting privatization nationwide that all delegates to this convention realize begin in the political arena.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the International Union use these funds at its discretion to educate members on the political choices inherent in the fight against privatization, to elect and re-elect candidates who support the fundamental principle of public services being provided by public employees, to lobby elected bodies contemplating any form of contracting out or privatization, and to organize employees who perform privatized public services in order to maintain the wage and benefit levels established in the public sector; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Union report through the Public Employee, in its newsletter to affiliates, and in its report to each International Convention on its activities aimed at combating privatization.

SUBMITTED BY: 

Ron Howard, PEOPLE Chairman and Delegate
Chuck Stout, Vice President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 3549, Council 31
Illinois