WHEREAS:
Social service employees are experiencing greater instances of violence in their workplaces; and
WHEREAS:
These incidents of violence are a direct result of poor program funding, insufficient staff/client ratios, inadequate staff training and the increase in the client population that has more severe mental health, substance abuse and criminal justice histories; and
WHEREAS:
Some state legislators are putting forth state legislation that would remedy these issues. There is no federal legislation that would provide a uniform approach toward funding, staff ratios, training, and safety standards for the delivery of community and/or governmental mental health, substance abuse, and criminal justice services; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME represents thousands of workers in these fields, both in the private and public sector and many of their affiliates would benefit from an effective strategy to make social service workplaces safer; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has the ability to provide expert advice in shaping such legislation and pulling together the needed resources to fight for safer workplaces.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME call a conference of all affected affiliates to develop appropriate model legislative and contract language; effective lobbying methods and coalition building models to promote national legislation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME's national office staff work with its affected affiliates to develop local strategies to secure work place safety, fairer wages, monies for training and upgrading for social service/criminal justice employees; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME initiate a call, within the AFL-CIO, for support of workplace safety as a major issue facing social service employees; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That this call within the AFL-CIO takes the form of joint legislative lobbying, local conferences, rallies and other joint support and assistance among appropriate AFL-CIO affiliates.
SUBMITTED BY:
Brenda Stokely, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 215, Council 1707
New York