WHEREAS:
AFSCME has a long history of fighting injustices and demanding that all persons be treated with humanity, dignity and respect within our union, in the workplace and in society; and
WHEREAS:
The AFSCME Bill of Rights for Union Members reflects these core values and guarantees that no person shall be discriminated against on the basis of their identity, status or beliefs; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME embraces the belief that as a union, we should and must actively seek to encourage diversity, equity, inclusiveness, acceptance, understanding and compassion amongst our members; and
WHEREAS:
At AFSCME’s 44th International Convention in 2020, delegates adopted Resolution 3 entitled “Confronting Racism” in which we committed ourselves to “examine our own institutions, procedures and cultures to identify and address bias to become a more perfect union;” and
WHEREAS:
President Lee Saunders appointed a Committee on Racial Equity, consisting of International Vice Presidents representing a cross-section of our union – racially, politically, occupationally and geographically – to conduct the examination required under Resolution 3 and to develop a strategy to engage our union at all levels in making a commitment to racial equity in a way that serves our members and moves our union forward; and
WHEREAS:
The strategy developed by the Committee on Racial Equity served as the framework for a new program called “COURAGE to be Stronger,” which offers tools and resources to assist with incorporating the practice of racial equity in all aspects of our work, with the goal of transforming minds and cultures within our union; and
WHEREAS:
In order to become a more perfect union, AFSCME must address historic inequities and continue to examine its own institutions, procedures and cultures to identify and address other biases, including gender, that weaken our solidarity, deny advancement opportunities to qualified people and interfere with our ability to secure better wages and working conditions for our members.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME reaffirms our collective commitment to identifying and addressing racial biases within our union; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME is equally committed to identifying and addressing biases related to members of different genders, sexual orientation, gender identities and gender expressions; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
The “COURAGE to be Stronger” program shall be expanded to include tools, resources and strategies to educate ourselves and institute practices that will assist with eradicating gender-based biases within our union.
SUBMITTED BY:
International Executive Board