WHEREAS:
The 21st Century Committee calls for a “top-to-bottom commitment to organizing.  Our political power will grow as we add members.  Our bargaining power will grow as we add members”; and

WHEREAS:
To meet the organizing commitment proposed by the 21st Century Committee we must recruit and train people who reflect the diversity of our members and the non-union workers we are organizing and who have a passion for social justice such that it sustains them during the hard work that it takes to organize in the adverse conditions of an antiunion political climate; and

WHEREAS:
We need to expand our recruitment of experienced organizers in order to provide the level of skill necessary to the success of organizing programs; and

WHEREAS:
Employers have tremendous resources to wage war against unionization.  We will never have comparable resources but we do have 1.4 million members.  The work of full-time organizers must be complemented by a trained and ready team of Volunteer Member Organizers (VMOs) - members who volunteer their time to work on organizing activity; and

WHEREAS:
Successful organizing is learned; all organizers and VMOs need continual training and feedback, mostly in the field.  Training must be ongoing, measurable, and consistent; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME organizers have developed the AFSCME Organizing Model, which incorporates best practices for organizing in adverse conditions.  From that they have developed Rules That Build Power, incorporating our key principles; and

WHEREAS:
The 21st Century Committee calls for developing and projecting a “brand” identity for our union, to send a “powerful message of who we are and what we stand for.”  An additional benefit of this powerful message will be the attraction of experienced organizers and committed activists to AFSCME.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That we use the AFSCME Organizing Model and AFSCME Rules that Build Power as the fundamental framework for effective organizing training; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME at all levels will redouble its commitment to recruiting and training organizers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That for every new organizer hired we will set a goal of recruiting and training 50 new VMOs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That every member, council and affiliate will become AFSCME “recruiters” by helping to project the AFSCME “brand” as a successful, dynamic, and innovative union that validates public service and the people who provide public service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
The International Union Organizing and Field Services Department will generate “benchmark” training tools for all field organizing, and in collaboration with the VMO program of the Education and Leadership Department, provide ongoing trainings for implementation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That these efforts by the International Union Organizing and Field Services Department and Education and Leadership Department include periodic measurement and evaluation of AFSCME’s organizing abilities
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: Bonnie Marpoe, President and Delegate
Phyllis Wingate, Secretary
AFSCME Council 13
Pennsylvania