WHEREAS:

Historically, AFSCME has been the principal organizational voice of direct care workers in the fields of mental health and retardation; and

WHEREAS:

Deinstitutionalization has shifted the large majority of direct care work from state institutions to various community settings, including group homes; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME adopted the policy of "Following the Work" at our 1994 Convention; and

WHEREAS:

Michigan Council 25, Illinois Council 31, New Jersey Council 1, NUHHCE, CSEA Local 1000 and Oregon Council 75 have each invested considerable energy researching and seeking to build the union among group homes and other community mental health workers; and

WHEREAS:

The group home and related workforce is an exploited and unacknowledged army of a half million dedicated workers, caring for some of society's most dependent people at near-minimum wage, usually without insurance or other benefits; and

WHEREAS:

There are 32 states whose direct care workers are represented by AFSCME.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME accepts the challenge to unionize the group home industry, particularly in the states where we have historically represented direct care workers in public facilities.

SUBMITTED BY:

Danny Donohue, President and Delegate
Mary E. Sullivan, Executive Vice President and Delegate
Barbara Reeves, Secretary and Delegate
Maureen S. Malone, Treasurer and Delegate
CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000
New York