WHEREAS:

AFSCME is committed to helping our members fight and win a better life for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS:

The basic structure of our Constitution which governs the most democratic union in America was adopted in 1965 and has not been reviewed or revised comprehensively since; and

WHEREAS:

Our union operates on a dues level substantially below much of the labor movement, and our minimum dues structure, which was adopted in 1978, has never been significantly revised; and

WHEREAS:

While some affiliates have recently studied and modernized their structures, others have never been reexamined; and

WHEREAS:

We are the union that has led the entire labor movement to commit itself to member mobilization and grassroots politics and a broad agenda for social and economic justice, including leading the struggle for equal rights and pay equity in the workplace, winning collective bargaining for public service workers throughout the country, and leading the fight against privatization; and

WHEREAS:

We have built an impressive legislative and political operation through PEOPLE, and through our organizing program have grown from 254,000 members in 1966 to 1.3 million today; and

WHEREAS:

The 1998 Convention, based on the work of the Task Force on the Future, set clear AFSCME priorities to organize new workers, increase political power, fight privatization and adopt and enforce the best financial practices; and

WHEREAS:

The challenges facing working men and women, especially those in the public service, have never been greater, due to the unchecked influence of an anti worker, anti union president and all the forces allied with him; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME's structure, jurisdictions, Constitution, financing, methods of operation, priorities and programs must be in the best possible position to overcome these threats and enable us to build more power for workers to achieve our goals.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this Convention establishes the Committee for the Twenty-First Century, with a mandate to: examine every aspect of our International Constitution, as well as review all committees called for under the Constitution to best focus their purpose and activities; analyze our dues structure; evaluate our programs, priorities, representational structure, and methods of operation; all for the purpose of recommending changes to make our union more effective, stronger, and to ensure that AFSCME is on the offensive and serves as the leader of the labor movement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Committee shall conduct hearings, surveys and other research to challenge the whole union to engage in this vital exploration and to provide the information necessary to make wise recommendations, as well as call upon the help and expertise of outside experts in providing support and guidance in this process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Committee shall consist of the International President, who shall serve as chair of the Committee, the International Secretary Treasurer and up to 15 members to be appointed by the International President with the approval of the International Executive Board, and such additional members to serve on task forces and sub committees as are necessary to advance the work of the Committee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the Committee report to the 37th International Convention in 2006 on findings and recommendations; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That no aspect of the union shall be off limits in this process because our objective is to build the greatest union in and for the Twenty-First Century.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board

Becky S. Jack, President and Delegate
Terry L. Johnston, Recording Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2804, Council 8
Ohio

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