WHEREAS:
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) was chartered in 1936 and is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a fighting union; and  

WHEREAS:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, government relief for the destitute and above all new wage levels that meant not mere survival, but a tolerable life. The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. When in the thirties the wave of union organization crested over our nation, it carried to secure shores not only itself but the whole society”; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME for 75 years has been one of America’s most powerful forces for social justice – on the front line of every fight, including not only the fight for collective bargaining,  but also civil rights; women’s rights; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights; retirement security; Social Security; Medicare and Medicaid; health care reform; robust public services and more; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME has a long and proud history as a leader in the fight for workers’ rights, including the historic 1968 AFSCME sanitation workers strike in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated while supporting our members; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME members fought for equality for women, including the historic fights for pay equity in the 1970s in Washington state and in San Jose, California, where our members went on strike to push the city government to fix disparities in compensation; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME has taken the lead in fights to protect public services from privatization and to improve the quality of the vital services our members provide in every community; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME is the nation’s largest and fastest growing public service employees’ union with more than 1.6 million working and retired members; and

WHEREAS:
In the face of unprecedented assaults by the corporate-funded radical right wing that took power in 2010 in Congress and in many states, AFSCME members have fought back to preserve the middle class and the rights that we hold dear in a democratic society; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME members have sharpened our message, pulled together and deepened our activism as part of a Main Street movement committed to defending the 99 percent and preserving the American Dream for all.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME salutes every member who during our 75 years has worked to strengthen the voice of our union, stand up for social justice and improve the vital services we provide in communities throughout the country.  We vow that we will continue to mobilize and organize.  We will continue to lead.  We will continue to pull together to build a better future for our members, their families, their communities and our country.  We will continue to fight to preserve the American Dream for all working families.