These resolutions were approved at Council 2’s June convention.
#1
That local unions are encouraged to provide the necessary foundation for a stronger, more vibrant union by participating in steward training programs using Council 2’s steward training program.
#2
That Council 2 opposes all efforts to subcontract or privatize public services currently provided by state and local governments.
#3
That Council 2 opposes all efforts by any party, business or political organization, to further weaken the protection that workers have under State or Federal law; and
That the Washington State Council of County and City Employees work with other Unions to reinstate the regulations on Ergonomics that have been lost and work to improve worker safety in the workplace.
#4
That AFSCME Council 2 shall monitor prison and jail privatization developments throughout the state and apprise all Council 2 affiliates of its findings on an ongoing basis; and
That AFSCME Council 2 and its Locals use such strategies as cost comparisons and feasibility studies, lobbying state and local government officials, publicity campaigns, appropriate legal action and the passage of legislation restricting contracting out in order to stop prison privatization and holding our elected officials, such as John Ladenburg, accountable.
#5
All delegates to this convention inform the membership about the Voter Education Project and encourage their participation; and
That Council 2 continue to push for legislative solutions to this problem.
#6
That all local affiliates of Council 2 inform their memberships of the Initiative’s impacts; and
That Council 2 and AFSCME continue to lead the campaign against I-807.
#7
That AFSCME and Council 2 continue to fight Paycheck Deception wherever it occurs.
#8
That Council 2 informs and educates its members regarding CDL suspensions and work to provide members under the collective bargaining agreement language that can either keep an employee at work in another assignment or at least allow an employee to come back to work after the CDL has been reinstated.
#9
That Council 2 encourages locals to support and seek contract language to address these issues:
1. Catastrophic/illness leave which allows the employee to have time off without risk to his/her job or health insurance above what is required under FMLA;
2. Employer financed long-term disability insurance; and
3. Council 2 supports such programs through training, education and bargaining.
#10
That all Council 2 locals of AFSCME without people checkoff rights be urged by this convention to seek administrative agreement, contract clause or legislation where necessary to establish voluntary people checkoff for their members; and
That where people checkoff has been established that those jurisdictions re-double their efforts to set goals and programs that will increase their participation; and
That all Council 2 locals that do not have people voluntary checkoff rights at the present time may implement regular fund-raising programs which may include: Council 2’s credit card, hand collections at council, local and chapter functions; the promotion of the people Presidents Club/VIP; the sale of people merchandise; and various fund-raising events such as raffles.
#11
That the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2 support efforts to restore balance to our state budget by continuing to search for more reasonable alternatives to the arbitrary 1 percent limit of I-747 and other irresponsible initiatives that erode governments ability to perform mandated services, and
That the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2 encourage our state and congressional delegations to provide funding for the mandates they have already passed in the Legislature and Congress and to attach funding to any future mandates that the Legislature or Congress pass.
#12
That the delegates to this convention support the purchase of uniforms bearing the “Union Made in the U.S.A.” label; and
That Council 2 and its affiliates support efforts to require union made uniforms for public employees at all levels; and
That Council 2 and affiliates whose members wear uniforms seek contract language requiring union made uniforms for covered employees.
#13
That Council 2 continue to ask for legislators’ help in finding solutions: The bottom line is that legislators need a true understanding and education on the difficulties being faced by retirees – and we need help in finding solutions and alternatives; and
That Council 2 actively pursue options that provide realistic alternatives for public employee retirees.
#14
That WSCCCE Council 2 support NAMI Washington in their efforts to advocate for the following amendments to any preferred drug list or restrictive formulary: 1) exempting all medications used to treat mental illness and 2) have a provision for “Dispense as Written” that will allow physicians the ability to prescribe the most appropriate medication.
#15
That we as library workers, public employees, union members and concerned citizens affirm our opposition to the USA patriot Act as destructive of libraries; and
That information on this resolution be widely distributed to inspire similar action by our fellow union members and citizens.
#16
That our affiliates and members continue to search for, and contact unorganized public and private sector workers for organizing; and
That the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, along with its affiliates and members continue its commitment of staff resources and funding to continue organizing throughout Washington and Idaho.
#17
That locals of Council 2 start an aggressive campaign of bargaining to curb the excessive use of Temporary/Seasonal employees or to have them recognized as part of the bargaining unit if they work 1/6th of the time of a full-time employee.
#18
That Council 2 will support measures that provide more resources for the criminal justice system; and
That Council 2 will continue to advocate for the safety of the children and of our members; and
That Council 2 will continue to advocate for minimum staffing standards in juvenile detention facilities.
#19
That the 16,000 members of the Washington State Council of County and City Employees, Council 2, AFSCME, go on record calling for full collective bargaining rights for all Public Employees in the state of Idaho and that Council 2 supports any and all efforts to secure these rights and gain the dignity and respect they so rightfully deserve.
#20
That WSCCCE and its affiliate locals work together to develop legislation to address the issue of workplace safety for social service workers.
#21
That Council 2 informs and educates its new members regarding Plan III and uses its influence to ensure a balanced and fair education program to be offered to newly hired employees.
#22
That Council 2 and its affiliates continue to support and participate in Workers’ Memorial Day activities each year; and
That Council 2 and its affiliates continue the fight for safe workplaces; and
That this convention observes a moment of silence to honor our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives since we last convened.
#23
That Council 2 works to have employers adopt federal and WISHA programs and to comply with OSHA's Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers and Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments, and urges that employers who are not in compliance be cited; and
That in order to prevent violent incidents, Council 2 urges employers to take responsibility and live up to their duty to provide a safe work environment, to install safety devices in the workplace, increase staffing levels, develop training programs, institute counseling or debriefing programs for victims; and
That Council 2 works with management to address worker-on-worker violence by developing labor-management programs that reduce workplace stress by referring employees to Employee Assistance Programs.
#24
That the members of Council 2 AFSCME go on record, opposing this illegal action by the management of the King County District Court, and that Council 2 and its affiliates will not endorse or support any person/Judge seeking reelection within the King County District Court system.
#25
That the assembled delegates of the 46th Council 2 Convention, go on record to thank and express their appreciation to the host locals of District 3 and their respective committee members.
