WHEREAS:

The nation has witnessed enormous work force changes over the last few decades. Today, more than 60 percent of all women work for pay, up from 42 percent in 1975; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME was a leader in the fight to enact the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). The FMLA, which allows most workers to take up to 12 weeks of leave per year for the birth or adoption of a child; the serious health condition of a parent, spouse or child; or the employee's own serious health condition, was a significant step forward for working families; and

WHEREAS:

Many workers, nonetheless, are unable to take advantage of FMLA leave because it is unpaid. Research shows that nearly 64 percent of workers who needed to take family and medical leave were unable to do so because they could not afford to lose their income for this period of time; and

WHEREAS:

The United States is the only industrialized nation that fails to provide paid parental leave with a guaranteed right to return to work; and

WHEREAS:

The Clinton/Gore Administration has proposed expanding opportunities for paid family and medical leave by allowing states to change their unemployment insurance laws to provide paid leave to workers caring for newborn or newly adopted children; and

WHEREAS:

Legislation has been introduced to establish a demonstration program for state and local governments to provide paid leave to new parents directly, through a state temporary disability or unemployment compensation program or through a private disability or other insurance plan; and

WHEREAS:

Currently four states are seriously considering legislation to provide paid leave through the unemployment system and several other states are looking at alternative mechanisms for providing paid leave.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME strongly supports initiatives to enhance FMLA; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

AFSCME will work with affiliates to determine the best approaches for achieving paid leave in their states, including legislative and/or regulatory changes and collective bargaining; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

AFSCME will continue to advocate for paid leave through its work with other advocates as part of the Campaign for Family Leave Income, as well as in collective bargaining agreements.

SUBMITTED BY:

Glenard S. Middleton, Executive Director and Delegate 
Darlene Strock, President and Delegate 
Dorothy Bryant, Secretary and Delegate 
AFSCME Council 67
Maryland