WHEREAS:

American military women and men are again serving their country in a war against aggression, this time in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS:

The American people, despite continuing debate over the preferability of the use of sanctions against Iraq rather than the resort to war, are united in their determination that our nation's fighting men and women shall have the utmost support from their fellow citizens so that hostilities can be ended as soon as possible and they can come home safely; and

WHEREAS:

Our country's military forces are in large part made up of American workers, their daughters and sons and their parents, including many members or family members of AFSCME; and

WHEREAS:

The costs of the Gulf war have not only destroyed hopes for a peace dividend from the ending of the cold war, but are already threatening to expand even further the administration's attack on states and cities and their delivery of essential public services; its refusal to face up to the need to restore the nation's infrastructure; and its neglect of human needs of millions of poor and working Americans who cannot benefit from the administration's trickle-down policies and tax cuts for the rich.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME call for the continuation of every diplomatic and economic effort to end the Gulf war as soon as possible, while at the same time pledging full support to the American women and men who have answered their country's call to service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

The AFSCME International Executive Board call on all AFSCME locals and councils to participate in their community programs of encouragement and support for members of the military services who are serving their country in the Middle East; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

The AFSCME International Executive Board urge all AFSCME councils and locals to seek from their employers, by contract, side agreement, Executive Order or action by legislative bodies, protection for volunteers and reservists called to active duty that would include such provisions as guarantee of job return rights; continuation of health and welfare coverage for families; protection of seniority, retirement and other rights based on length of service; pay supplements to assist volunteers and reservists facing sharp reductions in pay; and such other actions as may be found necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME pledge its support for legislation such as H.R. 648, introduced by Congressman Rangel that would provide comprehensive benefits for the families of women and men serving in the Gulf. AFSCME demands that the Veterans Administration develop immediate plans for action to work with returning veterans so that the errors and mistakes of the Vietnam era can be avoided. Assistance must also be provided for communities hard hit by the call to active duty of large numbers of their residents, including support for maintaining levels of public services by filling the vacancies caused by the call to active duty of public employee reservists; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

In order to promote fiscal honesty, to reflect the true costs of the war on American society, and to avoid the budgetary charade of declaring massive spending programs "off budget" while essential domestic needs are continually squeezed because of the lack of "on-budget" funds, the Budget Enforcement and Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Acts should be repealed; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

AFSCME urge that Congress and the administration demonstrate the courage to provide funds for the massive needs of the home front, including restoring the nation's infrastructure, meeting the health care needs of millions of Americans who have no insurance coverage, and strengthening our education system, at the same time that Congress and the administration must spend $1 billion a day on the Gulf war; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

The AFSCME International Executive Board hereby declares that all AFSCME members who volunteer or are reservists or members of the National Guard called up for duty in the Persian Gulf war shall be maintained in good standing so that upon their return to their jobs they will be fully eligible for elective office within AFSCME; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT:

The International Executive Board urge all councils and locals to demonstrate leadership in the treatment accorded volunteers and reservists and National Guard members called to active duty by providing AFSCME staff members now serving in the Gulf with all necessary assistance so that they and their families will not have to face threats to their health insurance, home mortgages and other stresses in addition to the fact of their being separated from their loved ones; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT:

The AFSCME International Executive Board request its International Affairs Committee to monitor closely developments in the Gulf war, with particular attention to possible escalation of the war and the war's impact on public workers, the level of public services, and the concern paid to vital domestic needs, and report to the International Executive Board.