EMAIL AS A UNION RIGHT

WHEREAS, labor unions have a reasonable expectation of communicating with members in the most expedient manner possible; and

WHEREAS, unions have in the past negotiated over use of bulletin boards, inter-office mail, telephone and fax machine usage; and

WHEREAS, in the new technological era, electronic mail (e-mail) has become the mode of communication for government employees; and

WHEREAS, many states are still not allowing labor unions the opportunity to bargain over or use the e-mail system to communicate with the membership; and

WHEREAS, in some states, counties and municipalities, union members are being disciplined over use of e-mail for union business:

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work with local unions and state federations to provide members with appropriate on-the-job access to e-mail and electronic information about their union.