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Resolutions & Amendments

32nd International Convention - Chicago, IL (1996)

Redesigning Government, high Performance-High Quality Workplaces

Resolution No.
32nd International Convention
June 17-21, 1996
Chicago, IL

WHEREAS:

Despite abundant reference to employees as "our most important asset" in management literature and seminars, the record of management behavior in both the public and private sectors demonstrates that most top-level managers have failed to internalize such rhetoric. Workforce downsizing is occurring at wanton rates throughout the American economy -- most often without regard to the past or future contributions of laid off employees to the success of the enterprise; and

WHEREAS:

The perverse Wall Street response to corporate people-slashing has resulted in huge unearned increases in executive compensation as stock prices soar, while government jobs are slashed in the interest of providing tax breaks, blurring the fact that "leaner" is also "meaner" when it comes to corporate or public agency responsibility to workers and their communities; and

WHEREAS:

Data on the results of downsizing reveals that the long-term effects of such actions are often anorexic in nature, not helpful or strategic business decisions, as plummeting employee morale couples with decreased capacity to accelerate a downward spiral -- leading to further declines in market share, quality services and jobs; and

WHEREAS:

The root cause of most problems leading to the decision to downsize in the first place has been overwhelmingly demonstrated to be a failure of management systems and planning. It, therefore, becomes foolish to presume that the same management decision-makers who led the enterprise into difficulty can be infused with new-found wisdom to single-handedly lead the enterprise back to health; and

WHEREAS:

Front-line employees, who seldom have voice or influence in the management decisions leading to downsizing -- yet are its first victims are the most knowledgeable people in the organization regarding the intricacies of and problems in existing work practices and procedures; and

WHEREAS:

The success of efforts to redesign corporations or government agencies into high performance workplaces capable of delivering high-quality, cost effective products or services is universally contingent upon the ability of such enterprises to tap into the knowledge, creativity and experience of front-line employees; and

WHEREAS:

It has been clearly demonstrated that the most common reason for failure of an effort to improve quality, productivity or performance in unionized environments is the failure of management to consult and partner with the union(s) in the design and implementation of such initiatives; and

WHEREAS:

Thousands of AFSCME members are currently working in union-management partnerships to create the kind of high quality, high performance public sector workplaces which the public desires -- and which our members deserve.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME calls upon employers in both the public and private sectors to recognize the adverse consequences of short-term, quick-fix approaches to economic or performance issues which are better addressed by long-term planning and investment in the creation of high performance workplaces capable of producing high quality goods and services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to support initiatives which provide front-line employees and their unions with the information, training, responsibility and authority to make key decisions regarding the productivity, efficiency and effectiveness of their employers through effective union-management partnership; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to work for employer commitment to employment security, workforce development, high-quality workplaces and equitable systems of reward, factors which are essential to the long-term viability and success of contemporary organizations.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President & Delegate
Vanessa Tolliver, Secretary Treasurer & Delegate
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Ohio