WHEREAS:
The labor movement was founded to improve the lives of working families through our fight for economic justice for all working people. Our movement was built on the principles of democracy, equality and a belief that our collective power is derived from solidarity among an expanding membership standing together to achieve our demands for dignity and fairness on the job and throughout our economy; and
WHEREAS:
These fundamental values compel us to recognize that winning economic justice for all workers cannot be achieved without winning racial and gender justice and that solidarity cannot be fully realized unless all members are treated equitably within our union and the broader labor movement; and
WHEREAS:
Racism, sexism, religious intolerance, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, nativism, xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment and other biases and prejudices undermine solidarity and weaken our union and our country by pitting citizen against citizen, worker against worker and union member against union member; and
WHEREAS:
The Trump administration continues its attacks on civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and immigrant rights, incarcerating and tracking hundreds of thousands of immigrant workers, increasing the gender and racial wealth gaps, terminating and/or laying off a disproportionate number of federal workers of color and making our communities and workplaces less safe. At the same time, the Trump administration is weakening our nation’s labor and workplace safety laws and reversing civil rights enforcement in the workplace. The administration’s conduct is demonstrating the fundamental truth that labor rights and civil rights are inextricably linked, and if we allow our government or other institutions to decide that our constitutional right to equal protection under the law only applies to some citizens and not to all citizens, all of our rights are weakened and subject to challenge; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME has a long and proud history fighting for social and economic justice for all workers. Among our union’s latest efforts to continue this fight has been the creation of the AFSCME Courage to be Stronger Program, which encourages all AFSCME affiliates, with the support of the AFSCME International Education Department, to analyze the policies, practices and procedures in the workplaces where their members work and the union’s internal policies, practices and procedures to determine if members in marginalized groups within our union are being adversely impacted by bias, prejudice or discriminatory practices on the job, in the community or within the union that prevent those members from having an equal opportunity to succeed. The program also supports and encourages affiliates to create yearly action plans to work toward ensuring the equitable treatment of all of our members.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates deepen their commitment to fighting for more equitable workplaces by working to remove barriers to fair wages and benefits, equitable advancement opportunities, non-discriminatory hiring practices, equitable job losses during layoffs, non-discriminatory disciplinary policies and procedures and a harassment-free workplace for people of color, women, nonbinary, transgender, agender, LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups of workers within our bargaining units; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates deepen their commitment to ensuring that all members of our union have an equal right to participate in the union and to run for union office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates strengthen ties to the civil and social justice organizations in their communities to fight systemic discrimination in their communities, demanding equal access to transportation, affordable health care, affordable housing, access to food and nutrition, a good public education, a safe environment, equitable community and workforce development resources and by protesting the dismantling of civil rights and voting rights protections; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME affiliates join the Courage to be Stronger Program as a way to begin or enhance their ongoing equity and social justice work and to track their progress.
SUBMITTED BY:
R. Sean Grayson, President and Delegate
David Kovacs, Recording Secretary
AFSCME Council 8
Ohio