WHEREAS:

AFSCME-represented professional employees now total over 150,000; and

WHEREAS:

Professional employees are a likely source of growth in AFSCME membership. In fact, some of AFSCME's recent organizing victories have been among professional employees, ranging from public defenders in Illinois to doctors in Oregon to engineers in Ohio; and

WHEREAS:

The concerns of professionals, such as maintenance of professional standards and ethics, continuing education, career development and training, size of workload and its impact on quality of service, contracting out, and "de-skilling" of professional work can be effectively addressed through collective bargaining and other union activities; and

WHEREAS:

Professional members have worked successfully as organizers in various campaigns to show what benefits AFSCME representation can bring for professionals; and

WHEREAS:

The International Union's Professional Employees Advisory Committee, with rank-and-file members appointed from across the country, has met periodically to discuss how the union can best meet professional employees' needs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the International Union maintain and strengthen its efforts to organize professional employees, drawing upon the knowledge and expertise of professional employee members to actively assist in organizing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the International Union, in order to better service professionals represented by AFSCME, promote increased communication with its professional membership, and develop specific literature to address their needs, concerns and occupations, as appropriate.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That the Professional Employees Advisory Committee continue to focus attention on the concerns of professional employees across the nation.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board