WHEREAS:

Recognizing that the number of unorganized workers in the United States far exceeds those in the labor movement, AFSCME undertook a Change to Organize program, commencing at the 1998 Convention; and

WHEREAS:

Numerous AFSCME affiliates have made targeting determinations, identifying the types of workers they could most effectively seek to organize and represent, and in many cases those are inconsistent with existing jurisdictional lines; and

WHEREAS:

There may be many groups of workers within the jurisdictions of AFSCME affiliates that remain unorganized only because such affiliates have different priorities for expending resources; and

WHEREAS:

Informal systems for waiving organizing jurisdiction have been successfully implemented by AFSCME affiliates in a few states, such as New York.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That every AFSCME local and council is encouraged, in the strongest possible terms, to make every effort to organize the unorganized workers within its jurisdiction; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That any AFSCME affiliate that is unprepared to organize a group of workers within its jurisdiction is urged to waive such jurisdiction in favor of any other AFSCME affiliate that makes an appropriate request for permission to organize such workers.

SUBMITTED BY: INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD