ESTABLISHING AND SUPPORTING STATE-LEVEL PSRP COMMITTEES

WHEREAS, PSRP membership and the number of PSRP and PSRP/teacher combined locals has grown significantly within the AFT over the last 10 years. These new locals and members are not only affiliated with the AFT but are also affiliated, in most cases, with an AFT state affiliate; and

WHEREAS, while PSRPs work in schools and colleges, their problems, concerns and interests go beyond traditional education issues. They have licensing and certification requirements different from other school employees, unique health and safety concerns and professional development and training requirements that are often not met by the institutions for which they work; and

WHEREAS, while many of the laws and regulations that govern their work are mandated at the federal level, we have seen an increasing amount of legislative activity at the state level. This, coupled with determined efforts by Congress to block grant funding for federal programs such as child nutrition and Goals 2000, means that even more decision-making authority over the working conditions of PSRPs will fall to state legislatures; and

WHEREAS, PSRPs are active, loyal and dedicated unionists, their leadership abilities often go untapped at the state level. The 1992 Report of the AFT's Futures Committee and the subsequent creation of membership divisions with program and policy councils has served as a vehicle to develop issues and strong leadership in all constituency groups:

RESOLVED, that AFT encourage state affiliates with significant PSRP membership to establish a structure, similar to the AFT Paraprofessional and School-Related Personnel program and policy council, the purpose of which is to make recommendations to the state federation governing board and membership on programs and policies important to PSRPs; and

RESOLVED, that AFT work more closely with existing state-level PSRP committees to provide them with the assistance and information they need to make their committee function at maximum capacity.