WHEREAS:

AFSCME represents 150,000 professional employees including such diverse groups as human service workers, librarians, probation officers, nurses, engineers, and chaplains; and

WHEREAS:

Unions have historically not been perceived as relevant to professional employees, perhaps because professionals have in the past been better compensated and had somewhat more autonomy than other workers; and

WHEREAS:

Autonomy has largely given way to bureaucracy for professional employees and the labor market for many professional skills has deteriorated and is projected to remain saturated. As a result, many professional employees face employment conditions similar to those of other workers and union organization is being acknowledged by professionals as the best means for addressing work-related problems; and

WHEREAS:

The historically low level of unionization among professional employees, combined with the growth of the professional labor force which has occurred since World War 11 and is projected to continue, make professional employees a likely source of growth in the labor movement; and

WHEREAS:

In addition to the many concerns they share with other employees, professional employees face unique problems — including maintenance of professional standards and ethics, career development and training, size of workload and its impact on quality of service, and "de-skilling" of professional work; and

WHEREAS:

Acknowledging the significance of professional employees in the labor movement and with AFSCME, and recognizing the many concerns that professional employees have in common, the International Union has created a Professional Employees Advisory Committee with rank and file members appointed from across the country.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the International Union maintain and strengthen its efforts to organize professional employees; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Union, in order to better service professionals who are represented by AFSCME, promote increased understanding of the unique needs of professional employees by communicating with its professional membership, sharing the concerns and recommendations expressed with staff, and developing programs and materials responsive to those needs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Union Professional Employees Advisory Committee continue to meet to bring the concerns of professional employees across the nation to the Union's attention.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President-Elect, Delegate
and International Vice President
OCSEA/AFSCME, Local 11
Columbus, Ohio