WHEREAS:

            The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development adopted the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program to generate resources that Congress has failed to appropriate directly; and

WHEREAS:

            The RAD program presents the possibility of permanent privatization and/or the loss of public housing stock over time; and

WHEREAS:

            Some housing authorities are using this program to eliminate their public sector workforce and create private sector jobs with very low standards; and

WHEREAS:

            Some housing authorities have taken minimal steps to assist employees whose jobs will be eliminated with placement in other positions in the authority, related public agencies or even in the new private positions that are created; and

WHEREAS:

            Some housing authorities are using this as an opportunity to eliminate union protections for these modest jobs. 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME, in coalition with community-based organizations, will lobby the Obama Administration and Congress to assure that the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program is aimed at generating adequate funding but is not used to diminish labor market standards in any way, including but not limited to loss of employment, degradation of pay and benefits, or elimination of union recognition; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME, in coalition with community-based organizations, will fight on the local level where the RAD program is used to lower labor market standards or curtail tenant rights and/or conditions; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME, in coalition with community-based organizations, will fight to make sure the RAD program does not result in permanent privatization or the loss of public housing units over time.