Internal Organizing

WHEREAS:

The Union’s strength at the bargaining table, fighting privatization, and on many other fronts is to a great extent a reflection of how well we are organized internally, whether in an agency shop or an open shop; and

WHEREAS:

In an open shop, our internal strength is directly based on membership -- the larger the percentage in the union, the greater our strength; and

WHEREAS:

In agency shop, fair share and union shop situations, even where every bargaining unit worker is a full-fledged member, internal organizing to activate the membership is vitally necessary to face our challenges; and

WHEREAS:

We have analyzed and identified "best practices" for internal organizing, including:

 

• use of action around issues, outside the formal grievance procedure, to show and build strength in the workplace;

 

 

• targeting based on where there already exist willing activists and larger membership proportions;

 

 

• mutual reinforcement of effort between full-time servicing staff and rank-and-file leadership;

 

 

• mobilization in conjunction with collective bargaining negotiations;

 

 

• systematic record-keeping;

 

 

• frequent communication, written and one-on-one; and

 

 

• comprehensive new employee orientation.

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME re-affirms its policy that internal and external organizing are co-equal emphases and priorities for the entire union; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME’s programs of education and leadership development be directed toward propagating the "best practices" in internal organizing; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That the Department of Organizing and Field Services select projects embodying these "best practices" for financial and other support, particularly in open shop situations.

SUBMITTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD