WHEREAS:

The right to form a union and collectively bargain in America is routinely abridged by employers, denying basic human and economic rights to American citizens; and

WHEREAS:
American workers who organize unions face retaliation, including harassment, threats and firing; and

WHEREAS:
AFSCME and the American labor movement have waged a multi-year battle to enhance the protection of basic union representation rights through the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act; and

WHEREAS:
Enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act was within our grasp in 2009, but became much more difficult when Republican Senator Scott Brown was elected to fill the seat of the late Senator Edward Kennedy; and

WHEREAS:
Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln bowed to the political right wing and abandoned her support for workers’ rights; and

WHEREAS:
Right wing interest groups and corporations are not only trying to prevent the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, but are also seeking to block and repeal state and local laws that protect workers’ rights, allow certification on the basis of majority authorization and require employer neutrality.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will redouble its efforts to pass the Employee Free Choice Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME will vigorously fight to elect candidates that support worker rights and the Employee Free Choice Act; and
 
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That all AFSCME affiliates will mobilize to protect and expand worker rights legislation at the state and local government level.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY:
INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD