WHEREAS:
AFSCME represents thousands of members across the United States that are required, as a condition of employment, to hold a valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL); and

WHEREAS:
Many impacted employees are required to hold a valid CDL for the limited purpose of augmenting snow and ice removal operations; and

WHEREAS:
Many laws changed, eliminating occupational CDLs and suspending CDLs for certain non­commercial motor vehicle convictions, including off-duty convictions; and

WHEREAS:
The law changes are based on a new interpretation of regulations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; and

WHEREAS:
CDL suspensions have skyrocketed in the United States; and

WHEREAS:
The law changes undermine the original intent of the 1999 Motor Carrier Safety Act; and

WHEREAS:
Hundreds of our members have lost their jobs or have taken reductions in wages due to their inability to obtain an occupational CDL. The unfair standard has been applied to thousands of AFSCME members in states all across the country by requiring our members to maintain a CDL as a condition of employment; and

WHEREAS:
Options for relief from this issue appear to be limited to either another interpretation of regulations or through federal legislation.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the delegates to this 39th International Convention of AFSCME assembled in Boston, Massachusetts, June 28, 2010 - July 2, 2010, request that the International Union assign this issue of CDL suspensions and inability to obtain an occupational CDL a high legislative priority and exert its influence to see that either the appropriate regulations are properly interpreted or that federal legislation is enacted that will resolve this injustice.

SUBMITTED BY: 
Mary M. Goulding, President and Delegate
Richard C. Badger, Executive Director and Delegate
AFSCME Council 40
Wisconsin