WHEREAS:
AFSCME members are increasingly experiencing significant physical and emotional exhaustion due to chronic exposure to critical incidents in the workplace and in the community, unresolved job stress, excessive workloads, discrimination, harassment, microaggressions and ongoing operational demands; and
WHEREAS:
Prolonged workplace stress, discrimination and exposure to traumatic incidents have measurable chronic and often life-altering impacts on the mental health, psychological safety, physical well-being, job performance and retention of public service workers; and
WHEREAS:
Many workplaces lack structured systems of institutional support, including timely debriefing following traumatic workplace events, trauma-informed investigatory practices to reduce discrimination and microaggressions in the workplace and trauma-informed training for employees, supervisors and managers, leaving members without adequate organizational resources to process and recover from repeated exposure to workplace trauma; and
WHEREAS:
Organizations must shift from a shame-based “self-care” model to an institution-wide, resilience-based, trauma-informed workplace culture to achieve critical operational benefits like improved employee retention, reduced burnout and increased workplace safety; and
WHEREAS:
These efforts lead to stronger public services, which ultimately benefit the broader community.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME International supports policies at the state and federal level that advance comprehensive worker mental health protections, psychological safety and well-being and, where appropriate, will encourage affiliates to pursue these goals through collective bargaining and other labor-management efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME International will seek to identify evidence-based, trauma-informed educational programs and training that employers will provide that equip members to establish and strengthen peer support networks and organizational systems that foster workplace mental health and resilience; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME International will identify and promote evidence-based leadership and mentorship training designed to equip union leaders, stewards, mentors and other workplace representatives with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster resilient, supportive, psychologically safe and trauma-informed workplace environments; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That AFSCME International shall identify and promote best practices, model contract language, educational resources, training opportunities, policies and protocols to assist and guide affiliates in advancing workplace mental health, psychological safety, peer support and trauma-informed workplaces.
SUBMITTED BY:
Jackie Tate, President and Delegate
Hilary Zust, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 88, Council 75
Oregon
Marlanea Aspden, President
Kimberly Hanson, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1020, Council 28
Washington