WHEREAS:

            AFSCME PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality) is the driving force behind our union’s political and legislative program at the federal, state and local levels; and

WHEREAS:

            Delegates to the AFSCME Convention in 2006 adopted the Power to Win plan, calling on members of the union to meet goals for activism and fundraising that would ensure AFSCME remains the preeminent political power in the American labor movement.          Delegates to the 2010 AFSCME Convention reiterated and amended those goals; and

WHEREAS:

            The union is committed to enrolling ten percent of our members at the PEOPLE MVP level of $100 per year by the end of 2012.  Currently 4 percent of members are MVPs; and

WHEREAS:

            In the wake of the Citizens United decision, the Supreme Court cleared a path for unlimited, undisclosed campaign spending by shadowy corporate front groups; and

WHEREAS:

            The attacks we witnessed in 2011 and 2012, on our union, on labor as a whole and on public services clearly demonstrated how vital it is that AFSCME have a strong PEOPLE program to fight these attacks; and

WHEREAS:

            So much is at stake for AFSCME members, other public service workers, our communities and our nation in 2012.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That all AFSCME members and activists shall rededicate the full power of this union to achieving our PEOPLE political action program goals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME members and activists shall continue to fight attacks on public services and workers’ rights with the same enthusiasm and energy that has marked our response in 2011 and 2012 thus far.  We will rally, phone bank, and door knock to elect people to office who support labor and its goals and make sure elected officials are held accountable for their votes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That all AFSCME members and activists shall remember the attacks on us that marked the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions and redouble our efforts to educate and turn out fellow members, our families, our friends and other voters in November; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That all AFSCME members and activists will do their part to ensure that we meet the MVP activist fundraising goals set by delegates to the 2010 convention, committing ourselves to enrolling ten percent of our members at the MVP level by the end of  2012; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That this is a tall order but absolutely essential.  We all will make AFSCME PEOPLE a part of every interaction and conversation with AFSCME members, whether we are engaged in a grassroots lobbying campaign, an organizing campaign, contract negotiations, a ballot measure campaign or an electoral campaign; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That every AFSCME activist and leader understands that becoming a PEOPLE MVP is the most important step each of us can take to advance the political action program that is central to our continued existence as a labor union.