WHEREAS:

The rights of working people to organize and collectively bargain for fair wages, reasonable benefits, and safe and acceptable working conditions are under unprecedented attack from billionaire CEOs and corporate interests; and

WHEREAS:

At the state and local level, anti-union politicians and their wealthy backers continue to pursue the enactment of so-called “right-to-work” legislation and other policies that harm working people; and

WHEREAS:

At the federal level, anti-union activists launched an egregious political attack to overturn 40 years of established legal precedent and assault the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME has been a leader in fighting back against these attacks, increasing union membership through the AFSCME Strong campaign, through which union activists have held hundreds of thousands of one-on-one conversations with members, and signed up hundreds of thousands of new members in fair-share and right-to-work locations; and

WHEREAS:

Building on existing efforts to retain and expand membership, despite the continuing and unprecedented attacks on unions, is essential to protecting the freedom of all working people to earn a better life for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS:

In many workplaces where AFSCME represents workers, some employees that should be represented by the existing local may not currently be benefitting from representation. This may occur when employees are misclassified as confidential or supervisory, or when new positions are created that are not explicitly covered by the existing certification; and

WHEREAS:

Extending the benefit of representation to these unrepresented employees through accretion—the addition of new members into an existing bargaining unit—can play a critical role in our union’s ongoing efforts to expand membership and build power on behalf of all working people; and

WHEREAS:

A number of AFSCME affiliates have successfully accreted thousands of members into existing bargaining units thereby increasing the strength of the union and bringing the “union advantage” to previously unrepresented workers.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the International Union will continue to develop resources and training materials, provide subject matter expertise and research support, and provide other support as needed to affiliates and local unions to support the accretion of new members into local unions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That affiliates and local unions are encouraged to dedicate time and resources to identify accretion opportunities and organize new members that will further strengthen our union and the collective voices of all working people.

SUBMITTED BY:

Eddie Rodriguez, President and Delegate
Deborah A. Pitts, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME District Council 37
New York