ORGANIZING PARAPROFESSIONAL/ SCHOOL RELATED PERSONNEL

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers has a proud tradition of taking into membership all non-administrative employees in school systems; and

WHEREAS, the organization by AFT of Paraprofessional/School Related Personnel throughout the country has been consistently and progressively successful; and

WHEREAS, it is clear that all school employees need to work together to bring about meaningful reforms in education and to provide quality education for all; and

WHEREAS, the National Education Association, which still permits its state affiliates to deny Paraprofessional/School Related Personnel members voting rights, has announced its intention to vastly increase its efforts to organize Paraprofessional/School Related Personnel; and

WHEREAS, other AFL-CIO unions do organize school employees, and once a group has been organized by an affiliate they cannot come to the AFT; and

WHEREAS, no other AFL-CIO union unites all school employees, thereby enabling them to work together in one union to achieve dignity and educational excellence:

RESOLVED, that the AFT shall encourage and be willing to assist all state affiliates in the development of a program for Paraprofessional/School Related Personnel which includes the following:

• the institution of a statewide committee to represent current PSRP members;

• the identification of organizing targets in districts where any group of PSRP are not organized in an AFL-CIO affiliated union;

• the distribution of literature which addresses issues of concern to PSRP;

• the inclusion of materials which specifically address the needs of PSRP in leadership training programs;

RESOLVED, that all AFT locals are encouraged to explore and pursue any Paraprofessional/School Related Personnel organizing opportunities in their district; and

RESOLVED, that AFT and all its affiliates reaffirm their commitment and redouble their efforts for the organization of Paraprofessional/ School Related Personnel.