WHEREAS:

AFSCME members and other public employees are the only people in America who have the opportunity to directly elect their employers; and

WHEREAS:

Delegates to the 34th AFSCME International Convention approved a resolution calling for each council and local to register 80 percent of its eligible membership for the 2000 elections; and

WHEREAS:

Delegates to the 35th AFSCME International Convention approved a resolution calling for each council and local to register 80 percent of its eligible membership for the 2002 elections and affirming its commitment to the long-term goal of registering 100 percent of eligible membership; and

WHEREAS:

Very few of AFSCME's councils and locals have met the 80 percent goal and we know of none who have reached the 100 percent registration goal.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and locals will establish programs to ensure that 100 percent of members have the opportunity to register to vote; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That each council and local will, working with the International Political Action Department, develop a plan to mobilize at least 80 percent of its registered members and persuade at least 80 percent of them to vote for the union's endorsed candidate(s); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That each council and local, in an effort to ensure their members fully participate in the political process, will dedicate appropriate resources to conduct voter registration drives, member education and member mobilization between now and the general election in November; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That each council and local establish a reporting mechanism to measure their progress in reaching these goals.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board

Ronald C. Alexander, President and Delegate
Kathleen Stewart, Secretary/Treasurer
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Ohio