WHEREAS:
AFSCME members in the public sector know that we elect our bosses and all our members know that our ability to deliver public services depends on elected officials who defend and support government and who stand with us; and

WHEREAS:
These days, though, unions are shrinking and workers have less power. Big corporations and right-wing politicians are stronger than ever and they are attacking our union and the public services we provide. Even some of the politicians we support turn their back on us once they get in office; and

WHEREAS:
If we want to keep the rights we have won, hold on to the health and pension benefits we depend on, and save our jobs and the services we provide from the chopping block, it can no longer be business as usual. We must power up our Green Machine to be bigger, bolder and better than ever. We must build a political, legislative and fundraising machine with the power to turn the tide against those who would take away all that we have fought for and won.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME at every level commit to a year-round, member-driven political action program called Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality (PEOPLE), encompassing electoral politics, issue advocacy and political fundraising. We will stand up for those who stand up for us and throw those who do not out of office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The International Union and every affiliate will commit sufficient funding and staff to make this program a success. Every AFSCME council and large unaffiliated local union will have a full-time director for PEOPLE activities that encompass political action, legislative advocacy and fund raising, and those activities will also be included in the duties of all staff representatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That all councils and large unaffiliated local unions embrace a comprehensive candidate development and recruitment process including assisting members to run for political office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That all councils and large unaffiliated local unions develop a candidate screening and endorsement process and a procedure to address conflicting endorsements by affiliates with the goal of developing unified political structure in each state; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The core of our PEOPLE program will be an army of 40,000 activists, representing 3 percent of AFSCME’s membership. This army of activists will be in place by September 2008, in time for the 2008 elections. No less than 2 percent of AFSCME members will be mobilized to work on Election Day 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
Every council and large unaffiliated local union will have an ongoing voter registration program. Member registration will be increased 5 percent each year until 90 percent of members are registered and turn out to vote on Election Day; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
In Congress and every state and local legislature, AFSCME  will have a clear and powerful issue agenda that will strengthen us in the workplace, secure our jobs and the services we provide and protect our pay and benefits. Each council and large unaffiliated local union will work with the International Union to identify an activist for every Congressional district and a lead staffer on federal issues and will develop a state and local legislative agenda with a lead activist identified for every state legislative district and local government; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
With the growing importance of hard dollars in the political process, fundraising is more critical than ever. With the assistance of the International Union, councils will increase the number of MVP ($100 a year) PEOPLE contributors by 5 percent a year until 25 percent of all members are MVP contributors.  PEOPLE check-off language should be sought in every AFSCME contract. Where check-off is not available, locals should make significant efforts to raise money by other means; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
International Union and council and local union leaders and staff should set an example by contributing one percent of their salary to PEOPLE; and
 
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That all AFSCME councils and large unaffiliated local unions develop the capacity to generate phone calls, letters, emails and grassroots pressure on lawmakers at all levels of government, partnering with locals, sub-locals and retiree chapters, so that we can hold elected officials accountable.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY:  INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD