ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS TO RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE

WHEREAS, thousands of American Federation of Teachers members have taken to the streets and state capitols this year to protest conditions that have become dire for students and patients—pressuring those with power to listen to our many voices speaking as one. We have pushed the needle in the direction of the future, and we must continue to push further; and

WHEREAS, AFT members must become those wielding the power. It is far past time that public sector workers, educators and healthcare professionals took the seats of school board members, councilpersons, mayors and legislators at county, state and federal levels. When we work to amplify our voice, we can win elections and deliver majorities for the causes that matter to working people; and

WHEREAS, when an AFT member becomes a councilperson or a school board member, we have the experience and the knowledge to make choices that are best for our students and our colleagues; and

WHEREAS, when a healthcare worker joins the state legislature, safe staffing becomes a top priority; and

WHEREAS, when a public employee becomes mayor, employees are treated with respect, and demands for collective bargaining, workplace safety and healthcare and retirement benefits are put into action; and

WHEREAS, when our voice is heard from the dais, it amplifies the voices of millions of labor leaders across the nation:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers and its affiliates are here to guide every endorsed AFT candidate who steps forward to put his or her name and our movement on the ballot; and

RESOLVED, as local and state endorsed AFT member candidates fight for our members’ issues and priorities, we will offer access to training programs and strategic guidance for program development and to identify appropriate campaign resources for the candidacy. The first step is knowing that your voice matters and will be a valuable addition to any discussion at any level of government; and

RESOLVED, that those who seek to destroy labor unions, privatize public education and empty out pension funds will no longer go unchallenged at the ballot box; and

RESOLVED, that we will fight back, and we will win. The AFT and the AFL-CIO are ready to back your candidacy for office. We can stop the race to the bottom by putting our members’ issues and voices on top in every election.