WHEREAS:

Youth service workers perform a vital role in our society as they seek to maintain the safety of youth in their facilities and assist in the rehabilitation of youth remanded to the custody of our government; and

WHEREAS:

Youth services have been chronically underfunded. Our government has generally not lived up to its responsibility to provide incarcerated youth with safe, therapeutic and nurturing environments; and

WHEREAS:

Workplace violence in youth detention facilities is becoming increasingly common. As an employer, our government has generally not met its obligation to provide youth service workers with safe working conditions. Although the threat of violence in youth detention facilities cannot be eliminated, it can be mitigated and policies and practices can be put in place to protect AFSCME members as they perform their vitally important jobs; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME supports efforts to reduce youth incarceration and the provision of community-based services but we also recognize that detention facilities are necessary and that workers in such facilities must have policies and procedures in place to provide for their protection.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

AFSCME demands that our employers meet their obligation to provide employees with working conditions free of workplace hazards, including violence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will advocate that OSHA and state safety and health agencies and legislatures enact a standard on workplace violence, where none exists, applicable throughout public services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

Employers must share our commitment to a safe working environment. Joint labor management committees, to the extent they don’t exist, should be created to identify and address workplace hazards and conditions that lead to or fail to protect employees from violence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

We support the design of safer facilities, appropriate levels of staffing, adequate training of staff and the implementation of effective remedial measures to modify the behavior of incarcerated youth who have committed violent acts, and to protect residents and staff from such violence. Where incarcerated youth engage in criminal assault, we call on law enforcement personnel and prosecutors to fulfill their obligations to protect the public, including youth service personnel; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

We will work to organize unorganized youth detention workers in order to have them join us in our efforts to achieve the standards set forth in this resolution; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

AFSCME supports the implementation of enhanced therapeutic programs so incarcerated youth will get the treatment they need to reduce the tendency towards violent behavior. Such measures must always be consistent with providing staff and other incarcerated youth with a safe environment.

SUBMITTED BY:

Danny Donohue, President and Delegate
Denise Berkley, Secretary and Delegate
CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000
New York