WSLC Resolutions for 2003
Every year, the main business of the Washington State Labor Council convention is the deliberation, discussion and action on resolutions submitted by the affiliated union locals and councils. These resolutions to establish policy, programs and action for the WSLC. The following were passed by delegates at the WSLC's 2003 Convention on August 21-23 in Wenatchee.
(Some resolution numbers are skipped because those proposed resolutions were withdrawn, tabled or rejected by delegates, or combined with another similar submission.)
Previous
years' resolutions: 2002 -- 2001 -- 2000
-- 1999.
3. State Funding for PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION
4. Reduce Actuarial Penalties for Early Retirement from
PERS II
5. Opposing SB 6461,
an Act Relating to RANDOM DRUG TESTING
6. Regarding OFFSHORING and GLOBALIZATION
7. In Opposition to INITIATIVE 841
8. Pertaining to SENATE BILL 6097
9. In Opposition to CHARTER SCHOOLS and Other
Related Legislation
10. Stop Wasting America's Money on PRIVATIZATION
11. Fight Against Bush Administration Efforts to Erode
CIVIL SERVICE
12. Exploring Initiative of TAX FAIRNESS
13. Support for Miami Mobilization Against the FTAA
14. In Support of a Day of Action / WORLD HUMAN
RIGHTS DAY on December 10, 2003
15. In Support of
the IMMIGRANT WORKERS FREEDOM RIDE
16. Resolution on HEALTH CARE
17. Proclamation for UNION LABEL WEEK
18. Regarding INITIATIVE 841 - Ergonomic Repeal
19. Resolution on New Technologies to Assist INJURED
WORKERS
20. Resolution on Calculation of TIME LOSS BENEFITS
21. Resolution on Deregulation of SELF INSURED
EMPLOYERS
22. Resolution on INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMS
23. Applying Union Power to ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT
24. Guiding Principles for ECONOMIC and WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT
25. Resolution on the FTAA
26. Strengthening COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS
27. Winning a First Contract for 26,000 HOME CARE
WORKERS
28. Support Our LABOR NEIGHBOR Program in 2004
STATE
FUNDING FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Resolution #3
WHEREAS, since the inception
of legislation creating the public transit benefit area, Washington State
has been a partner in public transportation; and
WHEREAS, in the 2000 legislative session the intent of I-695 was codified
repealing the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, of which a portion was used for
matching local funds for public transportation; and
WHEREAS, transit properties in the State of Washington lost $213 million
per year in operating funds and have not been successful in replacing the
state’s portion; and
WHEREAS, transit properties have been, for the most part, successful in
raising local taxes, small rural transit systems do not have the tax base
to recoup the state funds and larger properties cannot keep pace with the
demands; and
WHEREAS, the 2002/2003 legislative session saw a transport package voted
upon in Olympia, of which only 11% or approximately $17 million per year
would go to rural mobility grants and to “special needs” or para-transit
operations, fall far short of the $213 million per year lost because of
I-695; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will work toward finding
a reliable and sufficient funding source for public transportation and
will support legislation that provides such a source.
REDUCE
ACTUARIAL PENALTIES FOR
EARLY RETIREMENT FROM PERS II
Resolution #4
WHEREAS, participants of PERS
II can, potentially, be penalized up to 80% of their pension for early
retirement; and
WHEREAS, the current actuarial penalties for early retirement from PERS II
are among the highest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, PERS II is fiscally sound and will be for the foreseeable future;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will support and work
towards legislation to reduce the actuarial penalties for early retirement
from PERS II to 3% or less per year for retirees aged 55 to 64 years.
OPPOSING
SB 6461, AN ACT RELATING TO RANDOM DRUG TESTING
Resolution #5
WHEREAS, federal guidelines
have been established for random drug testing for persons who have a
commercial drivers’ license; and
WHEREAS, the legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 6461 during the
2002 session, which complicates and actually exceeds federal guidelines;
and
WHEREAS, SB 6461 was so poorly written that HB 1679/SB 5431 was introduced
in the 2003 session to “clean up the language”; and
WHEREAS, the current RCW 46.25 (SB 6461) and SB 5431/HB 1679 interferes
with existing collective bargaining agreements and grievance procedures;
and
WHEREAS, the State of Washington and the Department of Licensing should
follow and adhere to federal guidelines, which will ease complicated rules
and benefit holders of the commercial driver’s license; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council shall oppose SB 5431/HB
1679, an act relating to random positive drug and alcohol tests, and
support legislation that will repeal SB 6461, which will require the state
to abide by the federal random drug testing requirements for CDL holders.
REGARDING
OFFSHORING AND GLOBALIZATION
Resolution #6
WHEREAS, the future of workers
in high technology and engineering is dependent upon investment in
domestic capacity – especially in local jobs and the local workers who
want these jobs; continuation of a strong U.S. technological knowledge
base and skilled workforce; protection of our labor and environmental laws
from challenge by other countries through the World Trade Organization and
other free-trade bodies; and increased awareness by all workers in every
country of the effects of economic globalization on their domestic economy
and culture; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council shall support the
following:
-
Education of our workforce about the effects of economic globalization, including the exportation of jobs and the practice of importing workers, which further pits worker against worker, reduces wages, and undercuts collective action.
-
Inclusion of workers and their organizations at all levels in the dialogue and decisions about economic globalization.
-
Creation of union-to-union, worker-to-worker, and union-to-company dialogue, both in the United States and elsewhere, about the issue of globalization and offshoring.
-
Strengthening of legislative protections for workers, our environment, and our communities. Challenge to legislation that protects corporations who are undercutting the domestic economy with offshore/outsourcing practices.
-
Strengthening of social safety nets for all people in the United States.
-
Awareness that corporations that benefit from our national policy and local and state tax laws owe a reciprocal obligation to invest in domestic capacity. It is just plain wrong to tax people, and use that tax money to throw those people out of work.
-
Rights for all workers, and especially our high technology and engineering constituents, to organize for their benefit as workers in the United States.
-
A prohibition of the offshoring of government jobs, either directly or through outsourcing agencies or consulting firms.
IN
OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVE 841
Resolution #7
WHEREAS, 50,000 Washington
workers a year suffer from work-related, preventable injuries such as
carpal tunnel syndrome, low back strain and tendonitis; and
WHEREAS, these injuries account for nearly one-third of all workers’
compensation claims in our state, and account for 46% of all state
workers’ compensation claims costs; and
WHEREAS, a cost-benefit analysis of the Washington State Department of
Labor and Industries ergonomics rule on work-related musculoskeletal
injuries found that the cost savings of implementation will save
Washington businesses nearly $340 million per year at a cost for full
compliance of nearly $80 million, with a cost-benefit ratio of more than
four-to-one; and
WHEREAS, certain business interests have spent hundreds of thousands of
dollars for paid signature gatherers to place Initiative 841 on the fall
statewide ballot to repeal this important workplace safety rule, and news
reports indicate these mercenary petitioners routinely lied about the rule
and its impact in order to convince people to sign; and
WHEREAS, the ergonomics rule has had the longest phase-in period of any
workplace safety rule ever adopted in our state, with special
consideration allowed for small business to take up to six years to
comply; and
WHEREAS, the National Academy of Science and the National Institute on
Occupational Safety and Health have both issued scientific reports
concluding that ergonomics programs and interventions in the workplace can
significantly reduce musculoskeletal injuries; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Independent Blue Ribbon Panel, which included
representatives from the business community, reviewed the rule in 2002 and
found that the rule’s requirements are understandable, that enforcement
policies are fair and consistent, that effective education materials are
widely available, and that demonstration projects have been successful;
and
WHEREAS, the new rule is targeted at real hazards where the most injuries
occur, and does not require any action by nearly 50% of employers that
have no employees in hazardous jobs; and
WHEREAS, common sense principles of prevention will avoid thousands of
painful and debilitating injuries to workers in our state and will make
hundreds of workplaces and jobs safer; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council go on record as opposed
to Initiative 841; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will assist in the
effort to defeat Initiative 841; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, that affiliates of the Washington State Labor Council are urged
to make contributions to the campaign to defeat I-841 (No on I-841), and
also are urged to reach out to individuals and companies who provide
services to organized labor and to reach out to allies of organized labor
to contribute to the No on I-841 campaign.
PERTAINING
TO SENATE BILL 6097
Resolution #8
WHEREAS, this year the
Washington State Legislature passed, and Governor Gary Locke signed into
law, Senate Bill 6097, which changed the Unemployment Insurance System in
Washington State; and
WHEREAS, the changes to benefits, with four-quarter averaging and
eligibility are particularly harmful to construction workers; and
WHEREAS, under a proposal put forth by the Washington State Labor Council,
and supported by the Washington State Building and Construction Trades
Council, employers would have realized comparable savings with less damage
to working families; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will work to pass
legislation in future legislative sessions to repair the damage to our
Unemployment Insurance System to the benefit of Washington workers.
IN
OPPOSITION TO CHARTER SCHOOLS OR OTHER RELATED LEGISLATION
Resolution #9
WHEREAS, after ten years of
experimentation in almost forty states in this country, we conclude that
the hopes many had for charter schools have, sadly, not materialized; and
these schools have not been any more creative than many of our public
schools or our public alternative schools and programs, or shown any
improvement in students’ test scores or achievement, or stimulated any
more innovative approaches than already exist in our public schools, and
in some cases have resorted to “canned” curricula that anyone could
teach; and, most notably, they have not had any particular positive effect
on the way in which public schools function; and
WHEREAS, reports show that about 10% of all charter schools have closed
because of financial fraud or mismanagement, and these types of closures
leave students and staff in terrible chaos which certainly doesn't foster
the kind of safe and consistent education community that studies show are
most effective features of a public school system; and
WHEREAS, in cases where public schools may be failing our students, we
cannot expect to improve those schools by abandoning them to drastically
reduced funding at the same time as we expect them to introduce higher
standards and testing; and
WHEREAS, to allow certain schools to diverge from laws and regulations
that are claimed to be too burdensome for innovative teaching, but to
leave others in schools that have to follow such rules and regulations and
are being cut at the same time, sets up a very un-American, two-tiered
educational system that we cannot support; and
WHEREAS, the underlying intent of charter schools by its traditional
supporters is to undermine and privatize our public education system at
all levels; and
WHEREAS, the voters of the State of Washington have twice defeated charter
school initiatives in the past ten years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council oppose the creation or
public funding of charter schools.
STOP
WASTING AMERICA’S MONEY ON PRIVATIZATION
Resolution #10
WHEREAS, last year, the Bush
Administration announced a plan to impose mandatory privatization quotas
across the government that threaten the jobs of up to 850,000 federal
employees; and
WHEREAS, these privatization quotas are implemented through a process that
requires each executive branch agency to submit annual plans to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) describing how many jobs it expects to
consider outsourcing and the methods it plans to use to facilitate the
outsourcing; and
WHEREAS, although OMB has recently claimed that the privatization quotas
are no longer in effect, the fact is that they remain central to the
administration’s “scorecard” system for rating the performance of
agencies relative to the president’s Management Agenda; and
WHEREAS, the government has for almost 30 years had a policy that required
public-private competition before the jobs of federal employees could be
outsourced to private firms, and these public-private competitions have
been decided on the basis of who could provide the services agencies
needed at the lowest cost to taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the Bush Administration has issued new regulations allowing
political appointees and managers to decide the winners of public-private
competitions on the basis of subjective factors rather than cost, and
award government contracts to firms whose bids are both more costly and
less responsive than the bids of in-house, unionized federal employees;
and
WHEREAS, the privatization threat has been used repeatedly by the Bush
Administration, and particularly by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld,
to neutralize congressional opposition to elimination of federal
employees’ collective bargaining and appeal rights, and the replacement
of the federal pay and classification system with one that gives total
control over the pay of each federal worker to supervisors. Secretary
Rumsfeld has declared repeatedly that if the Defense Department cannot get
the “managerial flexibility” over collective bargaining, hiring,
firing, discipline and pay that it demands, it will simply outsource or
privatize Defense Department civilian jobs; and
WHEREAS, the rules governing the privatization of federal government jobs
give great emphasis to private firms’ ability to undercut federal
employees on their pay and benefits; and
WHEREAS, privatization of government jobs has been shown to have a
disproportionately negative impact on female and minority workers. The
federal government’s diversity has been a hard-won victory for the labor
movement, and women and minorities not only make up a larger share of the
federal workforce than of the workforce at large, they are also more
prominently represented in the ranks of professional, managerial and
technical positions in the public sector than in the private sector; and
WHEREAS, the Bush Administration’s privatization quotas affecting
specific numbers and types of jobs as well as specific numbers and types
of competitions have not been shown to produce either cost savings for
taxpayers or improvements in the quality of service delivery; and
WHEREAS, AFGE has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of OMB’s
unilateral redefinition of what constitutes an “inherently
governmental” job that should not be privatized. In an action that would
increase the number and type of federal jobs vulnerable to privatization,
OMB has attempted to narrow the definition of inherently governmental so
that contractors will be able to take over work ranging from tax
collection to levying fines to evaluating and adjudicating applications
for citizenship to handling classified communications relating to national
security to overseeing and administering other government contractors; and
WHEREAS, privatization on the federal level is creating an environment
that accelerates the drive for privatization on the state and local level,
threatening the reliable and cost effective delivery of goods and
services; and
WHEREAS, privatization neither saves money nor improves services, and, if
anything, the experience is the opposite. The risky proposal advocated by
the Bush administration to open air traffic control to privatization
ignores the disastrous experiences around the globe, where airline near
misses have soared, and governments and consumers have had to bail out
flailing contractors. Many states and localities have ended contracts
early—Oklahoma’s for highway maintenance and the City of
Bridgeport’s for sewer services, as only two examples—because of
contractors’ failure to complete work on time and safely and ongoing
costs disputes that drain additional public resources. And despite a
relentless ideological drive to divert public money into private school
vouchers, there has been no improvement in student achievement but public
school coffers have suffered; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will join with its
affiliated unions that represent federal employees to work to defeat the
pernicious quotas for outsourcing and privatization; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will support any
coordinated efforts by public employee unions to defeat this attack on
government and the public sector.
FIGHT
AGAINST BUSH ADMINISTRATION EFFORTS TO ERODE THE CIVIL SERVICE
Resolution #11
WHEREAS, the Bush
Administration submitted legislation to eliminate virtually all civil
service protections for the Department of Defense’s civilian workforce
days after it declared victory in the war against Iraq; and
WHEREAS, these 720,000 civilian employees performed heroically,
professionally and successfully to prepare not only our troops but also
their weapons, military aircraft, ships, vehicles and other supplies for
the combat mission just weeks before this assault on their rights and
their livelihoods; and
WHEREAS, AFGE represents 200,000 Defense Department civilian employees,
and other AFL-CIO unions represent numerous other Defense Department
civilian employees whose rights are threatened by this legislation; and
WHEREAS, the legislation passed by the House of Representatives, which was
given just two weeks to consider Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s
radical plan, allows each successive secretary of Defense unilateral
authority to design an entirely new personnel system for 720,000 federal
employees; and
WHEREAS, the House-passed legislation allows Secretaries of Defense to
eliminate civilian employees’ rights to appeal management decisions to
suspend, demote, discipline or fire them, or go to the Merit Systems
Protection Board (MSPB) if they have evidence that such actions were taken
on the basis of prejudice, politics, union status, a distortion of the
facts or in violation of MSPB rules; and
WHEREAS, the House-passed legislation allows Secretaries of Defense to
decide unilaterally to eliminate civilian employees’ collective
bargaining rights, to effectively negate the outcome of employees’
election of union representation through the collective bargaining
process, and to decide unilaterally to refuse to bargain at the local
level even in cases where the union’s recognition as an exclusive
bargaining representative is at the local level only; and
WHEREAS, the House-passed legislation allows Secretaries of Defense to
decide unilaterally to rewrite the rules regarding procedures for carrying
out Reductions-in-Force that currently require managers to take into
consideration performance, employment status, veterans’ status, time
served in the military and tenure; and
WHEREAS, the House-passed legislation allows Secretaries of Defense to
rewrite the rules on hiring for federal positions that may deviate from
the principle of free and open competition, including the bar on the
hiring of relatives; and
WHEREAS, both the House and Senate passed legislation that allows
Secretaries of Defense to replace the federal pay and classification
systems that are based upon the principle of equal pay for substantially
equal work, which has gone a long way to prevent pay discrimination on the
basis of race, ethnicity and gender. Both bills would allow secretaries of
Defense to replace the current system’s nationwide, across-the-board
annual pay adjustments passed by Congress with individualized “pay for
performance” schemes that allow supervisors to decide whether and by how
much to adjust the pay of individual workers; and
WHEREAS, the Senate bill retains civilian employees’ collective
bargaining rights, and rights to appeal adverse actions to an impartial
third party but includes the repeal of the federal pay and classification
system and authority to replace it with “pay for performance” that
will undermine the principle of equal pay for equal work and the ability
to ensure that decisions regarding the distribution of pay and pay raises
to federal employees be made on the basis of objective criteria; and
WHEREAS, the undermining of the civil service, collective bargaining
rights and the federal pay and classification system envisioned in the
Defense Department legislation echoes that enacted in the law establishing
the Department of Homeland Security; has been repeated with regard to pay
and classification for federal employees who administer the Medicare
program and are employed by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS–formerly HCFA) in the House-passed legislation providing
prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council encourage all of its
affiliated unions and organizations to inform the House-Senate Conference
Committee working on Secretary Rumsfeld’s “National Security Personnel
Plan” that they oppose the administration’s effort to undermine
federal employees’ collective bargaining and appeal rights, civil
service rights and pay and classification system in the Defense Department
and other executive branch agencies; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will work in conjunction
with the American Federation of Government Employees and other affiliated
unions representing civilian employees of the Defense Department to
support ongoing efforts designed to defeat this legislation and other
legislation that undermines the apolitical federal civil service; and, be
it finally
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council and its affiliates are
urged to immediately contact their elected congressional representatives
and senators requesting that they oppose any provisions of HB 1588 and SB
1166 that may emerge from the congressional conference committee now
meeting.
EXPLORING
INITIATIVE ON TAX FAIRNESS
Resolution #12
WHEREAS, the Washington State
Labor Council is a vital part of the Tax Fairness Coalition, a grouping of
labor, faith-based, and community organizations concerned about our
state’s unfair tax system; and
WHEREAS, in the 2003 legislative session, tremendous pressure was exerted
by business interests to win funding concessions at the direct expense of
labor and human services funding, and the same business interests are
likely to employ similar pressure to push their agenda in the upcoming
2004 session; and
WHEREAS, for the upcoming 2004 session, a powerful defense of labor and
human services funding must be mounted to fend off further cuts and
takeaways; and
WHEREAS, to combat this pressure from business interests, labor and human
services interests need to develop political leverage of our own, and a
large, all volunteer, grassroots statewide initiative campaign taking
place while the legislature is in session would help to create such
leverage; and
WHEREAS, recent polls publicized by the Tax Fairness Coalition indicate
there is support among Washington voters for certain progressive tax
reforms whose implementation would promote the interests of labor and
human services; and
WHEREAS, at last year’s Washington State Labor Council convention,
Resolutions 16 and 19 were passed, indicating WSLC’s strong record of
support for a more progressive, robust tax system; and
WHEREAS, the signature gathering component of an initiative to the people
would be a strong way in which to further strengthen the Washington State
Labor Council’s Labor/Neighbor efforts to prepare them for the vital
November 2004 elections; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council’s Initiative Strategy
Committee explore the possibility of the WSLC, working in conjunction with
allies, to file an initiative to the people in January 2004, to achieve
tax fairness and to increase revenue in Washington.
SUPPORT
FOR MIAMI MOBILIZATION AGAINST THE FTAA
Resolution #13
WHEREAS, he National AFL-CIO
has adopted strong resolutions against extending the North American Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model to the rest of the hemisphere via the Free
Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); and
WHEREAS, the National AFL-CIO has issued an “FTAA Call to Action”,
co-signed by dozens of Allied groups, calling on trade unionists and their
allies to “join thousands of people in Miami...on November 19-21 to say
yes to fair trade policies and “no to the FTAA”; and
WHEREAS, over 3 million American jobs have been lost to Trade Agreements,
over 700,000 attributed solely to NAFTA, with 25,000 of those lost jobs in
Washington State alone; and
WHEREAS, the loss of jobs has also increased exploitation of foreign
workers and devastation of the environment; and
WHEREAS, “Fast Track” negotiating authority allows the U.S. President
to push the FTAA through Congress with limited debate and no amendments;
and
WHEREAS, the United Steelworkers of America, The Alliance for Sustainable
Jobs and the Environment, and Coalition partners are organizing an
Educational Event on September 26, and a March and Rally in Seattle on
September 27, 2003, which begins the March to Miami Mobilization; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council calls upon Washington
labor bodies to energetically oppose the FTAA, and adopt a resolution
against the FTAA; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, urges our
congressional representatives to reject the FTAA and work for fair trade
agreements that raise labor and environmental standards; and be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, supports
activities and promotes participation in the scheduled March to Miami
Events protesting FTAA, including the events planned in Seattle September
26 and 27, 2003.
IN
SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION / WORLD HUMAN RIGHTS DAY ON DECEMBER
10, 2003
Resolution #14
WHEREAS, individual workers do
not have the power to negotiate labor contracts and must have collective
bargaining rights to meet the power of corporations, as understood by the
Supreme Court in 1937 when they ruled that the National Labor Relations
Act was constitutional, recognizing in their decision that, “...a single
employee was helpless in dealing with an employer, that he was dependent
ordinarily on his daily wage for the maintenance of himself and his
family; that if the employer refused to pay him the wages he thought fair,
he was nevertheless unable to leave the employ and resist arbitrary and
unfair treatment,” and therefore, that, “...union is essential to give
laborers opportunity to deal on an equality with their employer.”
(Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Evan Hughes); and
WHEREAS, in the United States fewer than 9% of private sector workers and
less than 37% of public workers are covered by collective bargaining
agreements; while in every other industrial democracy in the world rates
of unionization are at least two times greater for both the private and
public sectors; and
WHEREAS, contracts in this country should not be for the protection of the
rich and famous alone, like CEOs and professional athletes; and
WHEREAS, the collapse of collective bargaining in the United States is
practically a secret, making it necessary to bring this crisis into the
open, shed light on it, and initiate a public debate on how to fix it,
beginning in our workplaces with our members; and
WHEREAS, the ability of union locals to bargain effectively depends
largely on the percentage of employees represented in the workplace; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, urges all
affiliate unions to implement a program for member education on the right
to organize and collectively bargain, such programs to be aimed at
officers, stewards, activists and members; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will support
federal and state legislative initiatives to bring back the right to
organize and collectively bargain, working with our allies and coalition
partners like central labor bodies and Jobs with Justice; and be it
further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will enlist
from elected officials and candidates public support for the right to
organize and collectively bargain for all private sector and federal
workers (in the tradition of FDR when he said, “If I were a factory
worker the first thing I would do is join a union”); and, be it finally
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will assist in
organizing and participate in A National Day of Action on December 10,
2003, World Human Rights Day, in order to bring attention to the crisis of
workers’ inability to freely organize into unions to achieve collective
bargaining and a voice at work as a fundamental human rights issue in the
United States.
IN
SUPPORT OF THE IMMIGRANT WORKERS FREEDOM RIDE
Resolution #15
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO has
officially embraced the cause of immigrant workers in the United States;
and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO actively campaigns for legislative reform to benefit
immigrant workers and their families; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO expects that legislation to reform immigration law
will be a matter of increasing congressional and executive activity
beginning in 2003; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO believes that such legislative reform must include,
at a minimum, 1) legalization, including the right of immigrant workers in
the United States to live and work in this country and become its
citizens; and 2) the right of immigrant workers to unite their families in
the United States if they wish; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO understands that a national mobilization of
individuals and organizations from all sectors – including labor,
business, political, religious, community, immigrant, civil rights and
others – is necessary to demonstrate to Congress and the President that
there is widespread support in the United States for meaningful
legislative reform and for the recognition of the contribution of
immigrant workers to the quality of social, cultural, political and
economic life in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO believes that an Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride –
which will culminate in a mass demonstration of support in the United
States for meaningful legislative reform in Washington, DC – will be a
powerful vehicle for mobilizing that national constituency; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will adopt the
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride (IWFR) as a campaign, will join with the
AFL-CIO, affiliated unions, state federations and other central labor
bodies in the IWFR and will urge member unions to contribute to this
effort and to adopt this same resolution of support of the IWFR.
RESOLUTION
ON HEALTH CARE
Resolution #16
WHEREAS, health insurance
premiums and overall health care spending in Washington State have risen
dramatically in recent years, without corresponding improvements in access
and quality; average premiums are expected to rise 15% in 2003 alone; and
WHEREAS, tens of thousands of Washington’s working families have lost
health insurance due to layoff or job loss; and
WHEREAS, the number of uninsured Washingtonians is therefore rising: in
2000, 15.4% of Washingtonians under 65 had no insurance, (CPS US Census
Bureau); and
WHEREAS, in 2003 our elected officials made deep cuts in Washington’s
insurance programs for low wage working families (Basic Health)n and for
low income seniors and people with disabilities (Medicaid), program cuts
which will eliminate health insurance coverage for nearly 100,000
Washingtonians and further reduce access through prohibitive fees for
thousands more; and
WHEREAS, costs of health care for the uninsured are shifted to hospitals,
through increased emergency room visits and uncompensated care, and to
insured Washingtonians through increased premiums to cover medical costs
of those lacking coverage for cost effective, preventative care; and
WHEREAS, employers including the State of Washington are shifting
the costs of health care to workers and their families through higher
premium shares, deductibles and co-pays, and eliminating dependent
coverage; and
WHEREAS, states have always been policy innovators and laboratories of
reform, and in that vein Washington has led the nation in efforts to
increase access, control costs and improve quality; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council and its affiliates at
this convention go on record supporting efforts to pass legislation that
will move us toward achieving the goals of building a health care system
for our state which will provide for all Washingtonians, high quality,
accessible, affordable health care services; and be it further
RESOLVED, by the Washington State Labor Council that all candidates
seeking labor’s endorsement for office will be asked in their candidate
questionnaire to state their proposal for addressing the health care
crisis in our state and nation; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, by the Washington State Labor Council that no candidate for
Governor will be endorsed by this body who does not publicly commit to
making solutions to the health care crisis a cornerstone of the platform
on which they run for office.
PROCLAMATION
FOR UNION LABEL WEEK
Resolution #17
WHEREAS, AFL-CIO unions build
a better America by empowering their members to be better citizens; and
WHEREAS, because unions raise wages, standards and working conditions for
all working families, they contribute to the economic strength and
vitality of the community, the region and the state; and
WHEREAS, unions are also at the vanguard of efforts to help the community
mobilize behind policies which enhance the quality of life for all –
from public education and fair taxes to job creation and a stable business
environment for the long-range vitality of our nation; and
WHEREAS, the key to maintaining strong and resilient economy at every
level is to create and maintain decent jobs – a goal which the
Washington State Labor Council shares with our affiliated unions; and
WHEREAS, the union label and union shop card are emblems of the dedication
of union members to the principles of team work and commitment to each
other and the greater good of the Washington State Labor Council and its
affiliates; and
WHEREAS, the union label and union shop card indicate that employment
standards, wages and working conditions that prevail in a given
establishment are derived from the process of collective bargaining,
providing workers there with a voice on the job and ensuring them of fair
treatment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, hereby
declares the week of September 1st through the 7th to be Union Label Week,
and we hereby encourage working families to look for and patronize
employers who proudly display union labels on their products and union
shop cards in their businesses.
REGARDING
INITIATIVE 841- ERGONOMIC REPEAL
Resolution #18
WHEREAS, the Department of
Labor and Industries is now implementing an Ergonomic Rule designed to
prevent workers from suffering disabling musculoskeletal injuries and
diseases; and
WHEREAS, business associations have paid signature gatherers to place
Initiative 841 on the ballot, the impact of which would be to repeal the
Ergonomics rule; and
WHEREAS, the proponents of this initiative are showing a callous disregard
for the suffering caused by these illnesses and injuries to injured
workers and their families; and
WHEREAS, defeat of this initiative will take a mass mobilization of
workers in our state to overcome the financial resources business
associations have and will put into this initiative; and
WHEREAS, the proponents of this initiative are resorting to lies and
half-truths in order to achieve their goal of repealing this critically
important health and safety rule; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that this convention go on record as strongly urging all
affiliates of the Washington State Labor Council to take immediate action
to oppose Initiative 841 by taking the following actions:
-
Participate in a serious educational campaign to provide educational material provided by the State Labor Council to rank and file members.
-
Recruit volunteers to assist with a grass roots field campaign to defeat Initiative 841.
RESOLUTION
ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ASSIST INJURED WORKERS
Resolution #19
WHEREAS, new technologies have
been developed, such as the spinal cord stimulator and transepidermal
neuro stimulator (TENS), that will have a positive impact on the lives of
injured workers dealing with intractable pain; and
WHEREAS, the spinal cord stimulator is made available to injured workers
in every other state in the country, with Washington being the only
exception; and
WHEREAS, the courts have ruled that the industrial insurance laws are to
be interpreted liberally on behalf of injured workers; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council shall express to the
Director of Labor and Industries and the Medical Director of Labor and
Industries our commitment to insisting that the Department of Labor and
Industries provide injured workers with the technologies, such as spinal
nerve stimulator and TENS stimulator that will be beneficial to those
injured workers as those injured workers try to put their lives back
together after suffering a work related injury or illness; and be it
finally
RESOLVED, that the 2003 Washington State Labor Council convention will
express our disappointment and anger that the Department of Labor and
Industries refuses to provide these new technologies to injured workers.
RESOLUTION
ON CALCULATION OF TIME LOSS BENEFITS
Resolution #20
WHEREAS, the Department of
Labor and Industries (DLI) and the business associations have demonstrated
their determination to cut time loss benefits to which injured workers are
entitled; and,
WHEREAS, the DLI wants to limit the Cockle decision, requiring the
addition of employer contribution to health care into the calculation of
compensation when health care coverage is terminated by the employer, to a
set amount which is substantially lower than the amount we negotiate in
our collective bargaining agreements; and
WHEREAS, the DLI wants to limit employer contribution to pension in
calculating compensation for purposes of determining time loss benefits;
and
WHEREAS, the DLI proposes to allow 12-month wage averaging for purposes of
determining time loss for “temporary workers”; and
WHEREAS, the business associations and their political allies want to
eliminate consideration of both Cockle benefits and contribution to
pension; and
WHEREAS, the business associations and their political allies want to use
12-month wage averaging rather than wages at time of injury to calculate
time loss benefits; and
WHEREAS, the business associations and their political allies propose to
use a set multiplier of 65.5% rather than a variable percentage of the
worker’s wage at injury; and
WHEREAS, the business associations and their allies would require using
the Implicit Price Deflator, which has no relation to wage replacement,
rather than growth in the state’s average weekly wage for benefit
indexing; and
WHEREAS, the industrial insurance system in our state is among the least
expensive to employers in the country, even with the rate increases over
the last two years; and
WHEREAS, the rate increases that are being imposed on workers and
employers are a result of the downturn in the equities and bond market and
also a result of the politically motivated return of $400 million dividend
to employers ($200 million in 1999 and $200 million in 2000); now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the WSLC encourage its affiliates to make every effort to
educate their rank and file members on the impending attack on workers’
compensation benefits with the goal of mobilizing rank and file members to
contact their legislators with the message that there should be zero cuts
in benefits to injured workers in our state; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, that organized labor, through resolution of this convention,
shall commit ourselves to use all methods we have available to stop any
and all attacks on the benefits to injured workers in our state.
RESOLUTION
ON DEREGULATION OF SELF INSURED EMPLOYERS
Resolution #21
WHEREAS, many of the workers
represented by unions are employed by employers who self-insure their
industrial insurance liability; and
WHEREAS, there is an effort by self-insured employers to reduce or
eliminate oversight by the self-insured division of the Department of
Labor and Industries; and
WHEREAS, the experience of many of the injured workers we represent
indicate there is insufficient oversight rather than too much regulation
and oversight; and
WHEREAS, deregulation of self-insured employers will cause even more abuse
of injured workers by self-insured employers or their third party
administrators; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council go on record as opposing
any efforts to reduce regulation or oversight of self-insured employers
and their third party administrators and also recommend to its affiliates
to do likewise; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the WSLC shall recommend to its affiliates to oppose any
such deregulation effort in the upcoming legislative session; and be it
finally
RESOLVED, that the WSLC will communicate its opposition to deregulation of
self-insured employers to legislators, the Department, and the Governor,
and recommend to its affiliates to do likewise.
RESOLUTION
ON INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMS
Resolution #22
WHEREAS, it is a common
practice by the state fund and self-insured employers to order Independent
Medical Examinations (IMEs) for multiple purposes, including
determinations of work relatedness of an injury, determining whether a
worker is “fixed and stable”, and determining Permanent Partial
Disability ratings; and
WHEREAS, the determinations by these IMEs have a major impact on the lives
of injured workers; and
WHEREAS, many injured workers have contacted union representatives,
indicating their belief that the IME doctor or panel were essentially
company doctors with little compassion or sympathy for injured workers;
and
WHEREAS, it is essential that injured workers be treated fairly and also
feel they have been treated fairly; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council go on record supporting
a requirement that any provider selected to perform an IME must have an
active practice of seeing their own patients as the predominant source of
income for their practice; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, that the WSLC go on record supporting a requirement that all
IMEs, including IMEs ordered by self-insured employers, shall be scheduled
by the state off of a rotating list of providers who have an active
practice, provided that there shall be a process for the injured worker or
their representative and the claims manager to schedule agreed upon IMEs.
APPLYING
UNION POWER TO ALTERNATIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Resolution #23
WHEREAS, since July, 2000,
Washington State lost nearly 55,700 manufacturing jobs or 15.7%; and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Manufacturers shows Washington State
with the highest percentage of jobs lost; and
WHEREAS, in the year 2002, Washington State had the third highest ranking
for Annual Average Unemployment Rates; and is ranked second with Alaska
into June of 2003; and
WHEREAS, energy costs and instability are a significant contributing
factor to job loss in many sectors of the economy, but particularly in the
heavily-unionized industrial sector; and
WHEREAS, many of the working men and women who have lost their jobs due to
rising energy costs are our brothers and sisters in the steel, chemical,
aluminum, and forest products industries; and
WHEREAS, heavy reliance on a single source of energy can lead to
vulnerability to price spikes that result from a volatile energy market;
and
WHEREAS, rising natural gas and electricity prices are making energy
conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable power production much more
compelling and economically viable in Washington and across the country;
and
WHEREAS, a more diverse energy portfolio could help bring about greater
energy security and less reliance on foreign energy; and
WHEREAS, if we turned our attention to the manufacturing of renewable
energy systems for use worldwide instead, it would not only make us less
reliant on foreign sources of energy, but would also increase economic
development at home; and
WHEREAS, renewable energy industries are labor-intensive; can attract jobs
to the state, and stimulate the economy; and
WHEREAS, the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries already
employ 4,000 people in Washington with annual revenues close to $1
billion; and
WHEREAS, increasing the diversity of our energy supply will create new
employment for certified installers and union manufacturing and
construction workers and can be linked to prevailing wage, Project Labor
Agreements, apprenticeship utilization, and the utilization of domestic
materials manufactured in-state; and
WHEREAS, the Apollo Project is a 10-year plan that would invest $300
billion into renewable energy and energy efficiency, research and
development of hydrogen fuel cell technology, increasing public
transportation options, and preserving regulatory protections measures
that would increase family wage jobs in the manufacturing sector and lead
the country toward greater energy independence; and
WHEREAS, in June, 2003, twelve prominent international labor unions
publicly endorsed the Apollo Project, including:
· Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
· International Association of
Machinists (IAM)
· International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (IBEW)
· International Union of
Electrical Workers (IUE-CWA)
· Paper and Allied Chemical
Employees (PACE)
· Service Employees
International Union (SEIU)
· Sheet Metal Workers
International Association (SMWIA)
· Transportation Workers Union
(TWU)
· United Automobile and
Aerospace Workers (UAW)
· United Mine Workers of
America (UMWA)
· Union of Needle trade
Industries and Textile Employees (UNITE!)
· United Steel Workers of
America (USWA); now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, endorse the
Apollo Project; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, will support
legislation that meets labor’s principles of economic and workforce
development, and will assist its affiliates to explore joint projects and
develop formal partnerships with the State of Washington and other public
and private employers in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency,
and hydrogen fuel cell research and development.
GUIDING
PRINCIPLES FOR ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Resolution #24
WHEREAS, the WSLC and its
affiliates have participated in both workforce and economic efforts in
order to bring high road strategy benefits home to Washington workers; and
WHEREAS, at both the local and state levels, our labor movement’s
economic and workforce strategies have frequently been reactive, rather
than proactive; and,
WHEREAS, to assist organized labor in Washington to become more proactive,
and to clearly identify the principles within workforce and economic
development which our labor movement will support and oppose; and
WHEREAS, the following principles have been developed and adopted in order
that labor’s endorsement and support for workforce and economic
development initiatives will more closely align the best practices for
workforce and economic development throughout our state; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that the WSLC adopt the following list of Guiding Principles for
Workforce and Economic Development serve as parameters to measure such
proposals, and determine organized labor’s support and/or opposition to
those proposals and encourages its affiliates to do the same.
******************
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1) It is organized labor’s intention to support
the improvement in the standard of living for all workers through
concerted activity. Therefore, we support businesses that engage in
activities that contribute to this goal.
-
Prevailing wage, state approved apprenticeship, apprenticeship utilization and Project Labor Agreements are sound economic development and workforce strategies.
-
Domestic content, local hire and in- state preference are also sound strategies.
-
The relationship between organized labor and good corporate citizens is a community asset.
2) Public dollars used in economic development and workforce training are an investment made by and on behalf of the public. That investment will require a return to the workers involved and the community in which they live.
-
When public investments of either dollars or incentives do not return value to the community, public monies must be returned.
-
Public investment into the economy and the workforce should be transparent: the public should know exactly what is intended, and if these benefits do not occur, the investment should be returned to the public.
3) The natural advantages of a community’s resources should be enhanced by the development being proposed.
-
Each community and workforce has natural advantages and abilities. Investments in economic development and workforce training should be designed to enhance those advantages.
-
The economic activity derived from economic and workforce development shall be environmentally sustainable.
-
Economic development and workforce development strategies should sustain and promote diversity.
4) Employment generated from economic or workforce investment shall pay livable family wages and benefits.
-
A priority of workforce and economic development shall be to maintain jobs that pay family wages and benefits, and to create and maintain training that leads to those jobs.
-
Economic development and workforce training should not be designed to undercut, or remove any union or union negotiated standards of wages, benefits, or working conditions.
5) No
economic or workforce development agreement or funds shall be made to an
employer or workforce services provider/contractor who violates the law,
violates existing bargaining agreements, and/or exhibits anti-union
behavior.
6) The relationship between organized labor and
good corporate citizens is a community asset.
-
High priority is placed on retaining existing businesses - and fostering new businesses - that are good corporate citizens and community stewards.
-
The principle that “any job is better than no job” is unacceptable. Therefore the public subsidy of a substandard job and/ or employer is not acceptable.
-
The subsidizing of low wage jobs is detrimental and puts pressure on state and local governments and communities to provide social services.
-
The statement “no net loss in number of jobs” without evaluating the quality of those jobs is not acceptable.
7) Organized labor is engaged in workforce and economic development, and must be engaged in the planning and implementation of workforce and economic strategies and the provision of workforce and economic services.
-
When organized labor or a signatory employer is a specific customer and/or provider of workforce and economic development services, then organized labor must be fully engaged in the planning and implementation of these strategies.
-
Success for the worker, the company and the community occur when workers receive training.
-
Quality workforce and economic development initiatives encourage people to take advantage of life long learning opportunities.
RESOLUTION
ON THE FTAA
Resolution #25
WHEREAS, the Bush
administration is hosting a meeting of trade ministers from throughout the
Americas on November 20 – 21, 2003, in Miami to launch the final round
of negotiations to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA); and
WHEREAS, the FTAA will extend the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
– which now covers the United States, Mexico and Canada – to every
country in the Western Hemisphere except for Cuba by 2005, when Congress
will vote “yes” or “no” on the whole FTAA agreement under fast
track procedures; and
WHEREAS, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that NAFTA – under
which our combined trade deficit with Canada and Mexico ballooned from $9
billion to $87 billion – has cost more than three quarters of a million
American jobs and job opportunities since 1994; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Labor has certified for trade adjustment
assistance more than 450,000 workers who lost their jobs due to NAFTA; and
WHEREAS, free trade agreements like the FTAA contribute to the rise in
income inequality and downward pressure on wages, and employers use the
threat of moving overseas to take advantage of new trade rules in order to
thwart union organizing drives and exact concessions at the bargaining
table; and
WHEREAS, trade deals that cost jobs, lower wages and increase employer
threats hurt the African American community, where median wages are lower,
overall unemployment is significantly higher and the benefits of union
membership are greater than among white workers; and
WHEREAS, NAFTA has also failed to deliver the promised benefits to workers
in Mexico, where wages have fallen and poverty is on the rise since NAFTA
went into effect; and
WHEREAS, enforceable protections for the International Labor
Organization’s core labor standards (freedom of association, the right
to organize and bargain collectively and prohibitions on child labor,
forced labor and discrimination) are not even being discussed by FTAA
negotiators; and
WHEREAS, the FTAA will contain rules on trade in services that could
encourage the privatization and deregulation of services, including public
services like transportation and utilities, thus threatening an important
source of good jobs for working families; and
WHEREAS, the FTAA will contain investment rules based on Chapter Eleven of
NAFTA, which give private foreign companies the right to demand taxpayer
compensation for public interest regulations which diminish the value of
their investments, thus giving foreign investors more rights than domestic
investors and small-business owners and threatening important
environmental and public health regulations; and
WHEREAS, the FTAA will contain intellectual property rules that could be
used by pharmaceutical companies to threaten developing countries with
retaliation if they violate patent rules in order to provide affordable
access to essential life-saving medicines, even medicines needed to treat
people with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, though drafts of the FTAA text have been made public, negotiators
have not taken into account substantial input from trade unions and other
allies on the content of the negotiations; and
WHEREAS, trade unions, environmentalists, students, people of faith,
women’s groups, indigenous organizations, peasants’ groups and family
farmers all over the hemisphere are rejecting the FTAA and demanding a
more just alternative; and
WHEREAS, trade unions and their allies from throughout the hemisphere will
participate in ballot campaigns and activities in Miami from November
19-21, 2003 to voice their opposition to the proposed FTAA; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO recently launched a Stop FTAA ballot campaign, and
together with their brothers and sisters throughout the hemisphere, will
deliver ballots collected throughout the Americas and deliver them to
trade ministers in Miami this November.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council opposes
the FTAA based on NAFTA and supports an alternative vision of economic
integration in the hemisphere based on respect for workers’ and human
rights, equality, democracy, and social justice; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council joins
allies throughout the hemisphere in voicing its opposition to the FTAA,
and will work with the AFL-CIO to educate working families about the FTAA
and collect ballots as part of the AFL-CIO’s Stop FTAA campaign; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council will
encourage members to participate in the mobilization planned in Miami for
November 19-21st which will include the presentation of the ballots to the
ministers, a workers’ forum, a forum with labor leaders from throughout
the Americas, a cultural event and a march.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council commits to
educating and organizing opposition to the FTAA and making this an issue
with their elected representatives in Congress; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council educates
elected officials and political candidates about the impact of the FTAA on
working families and urge them to oppose the FTAA and support fair trade
rules that create jobs, protect workers’ rights, and help build strong
communities.
STRENGTHENING
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS
Resolution #26
WHEREAS, one of the core
principles of the American labor movement is the absolute right of workers
to join together to form unions and bargain collectively to improve our
wages, hours, and working conditions; and
WHEREAS, until recently, many public sector workers in Washington state
were denied the right to “full scope” collective bargaining; and
WHEREAS, all state sector workers, including home care workers, state
employees, academic student employees, higher education employees and
other public workers now have the right to bargain with their employer on
economic issues; and
WHEREAS, the 2003 legislature violated the rights of unionized teachers
and home care workers by engaging in direct dealing and by-passing the
collective bargaining process; and
WHEREAS, the rights of state sector employees are thusly jeopardized; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall hold our
COPE-endorsed elected officials accountable to the principles of
collective bargaining that we hold dear; and be it further
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall work for full
enforcement of workers rights to organize and bargain collectively, shall
advocate for stronger guarantees of the right to full and fair collective
bargaining for all public sector workers in the state of Washington, and
shall join in national and international efforts to secure organizing and
collective bargaining rights for all workers.
WINNING
A FIRST CONTRACT FOR 26,000 HOMECARE WORKERS
Resolution #27
WHEREAS, the largest and
fastest growing segment of long term care in Washington state is provided
by homecare workers to consumers in their own homes; and
WHEREAS, tens of thousands of low-income seniors and people with
disabilities rely on homecare every day to live with dignity and
independence in their own homes; and
WHEREAS, homecare workers are an essential but often invisible part of the
human services safety net providing quality care to low-income elderly and
disabled Washingtonians ; and
WHEREAS, most homecare workers work for $7.68/hr with no benefits, no
healthcare, no paid leave, no pensions, no workers compensation; and
WHEREAS, low wages and no benefits, along with low quality standards and
inadequate training, contribute to a high worker turnover making it more
and more difficult for consumers to find qualified homecare workers; and
WHEREAS, in the largest union election ever in Washington state history,
more than 26,000 homecare workers have voted to join a union in order to
raise their standard of living, to improve the quality of care for the
consumers they serve, and to find solutions to stabilize the workforce;
and
WHEREAS, independent provider homecare workers negotiated a first contract
with the Home Care Quality Authority in the fall of 2003, and then brought
the negotiated contract to the 2003 Legislature for final approval of the
economic provisions; and
WHEREAS, the homecare worker contract was the first negotiated agreement
to be voted on by the Legislature under recently enacted laws providing
collective bargaining rights to homecare workers, state employees,
teaching assistants, and faculty; and
WHEREAS, despite tremendous mobilization by home care workers and support
from labor, faith and community allies, the 2003 Legislature rejected the
economic provisions of the home care contract between the Independent
Provider (IPs) home care workers represented by SEIU Local 775 and the
Home Care Quality Authority, which would have provided raises from $7.68
and hour to $9.75 an hour, health care for workers who work at least
half-time, and worker’s compensation coverage for all IPs; and
WHEREAS, when it was apparent that the House and the Senate could not
reach agreement on a budget which included funding for the home care
worker’s contract, the Legislature and Executive branches did not allow
the parties to return to the bargaining table to re-negotiate the
contractual economic provisions while the Legislature was in session, as
required by law; and
WHEREAS, following the final rejection of the contract, the 2003
legislature engaged in direct dealing by implementing an across-the-board
pay increase to all state-funded home care workers, thereby
violating the intent of the collective bargaining statute and further
subverting the collective bargaining process; and
WHEREAS, the parties have now returned to the bargaining table to
re-negotiate the economic provisions of the agreement for submission to
the 2004 legislative session, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, shall
prioritize and give all possible support to the lobbying efforts on behalf
of these homecare workers to win legislative approval of their first
contract.
SUPPORT
OUR LABOR NEIGHBOR PROGRAM IN 2004
Resolution #28
WHEREAS, in 2002 the fall
elections were marked by the unprecedented participation of union members
from almost every union visiting and calling on union brothers and sisters
about the important issues facing our labor movement; and
WHEREAS, the key to a strong electorate is working men and women having
the deciding voice and vote in electing representatives to further enact
legislation favorable to the interest of working families; and
WHEREAS, the success of the Labor Neighbor campaign is clearly shown by
the decisive victories in key legislative districts around our state; and
WHEREAS, the margin of victory in these districts was due to the efforts
of our members in the Labor Neighbor Program to increase the voter turnout
in labor households; and
WHEREAS, 2004 will be a presidential election year, as well as an election
year for governor and other statewide elected officials, and for members
of Congress as well as the state legislature; and
WHEREAS, the 2004 elections will be decisive for working families in
determining the direction of our state in key areas such as healthcare and
education; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council Convention go on record
as acknowledging the terrific success of the Labor Neighbor Program
throughout our state; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, at this
convention commit to continuing to make the Labor Neighbor program a
success by signing up to walk in this year’s fall election, and working
through Labor Neighbor programs to make sure we elect a governor and
president who truly represent the interests of working families; and, be
it finally
RESOLVED, that the Washington State Labor Council and its affiliates
prioritize committing to this effort enough resources to provide a strong
staff and state of the art technology to manage the vast efforts that it
will take to win for our members and for all Washingtonians.
Copyright © 2003
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO