PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS

WHEREAS, many AFT affiliates have fought long and hard to obtain collective bargaining rights for public employees; and

WHEREAS, public employees who have obtained such rights have successfully concluded collective bargaining agreements that improve the rights, benefits and wages of their members; and

WHEREAS, this very success at the bargaining table has led some state legislators to retaliate against public employees by reducing their collective bargaining rights and making it more difficult for public employees to achieve fair collective bargaining agreements:

WHEREAS, there are still 27 states that do not provide all public employees the right to collective bargaining:

RESOLVED, that AFT resist attempts by state legislatures to diminish collective bargaining rights for public employees and assist its affiliates in fighting such efforts; and

RESOLVED, that AFT seek federal legislation to provide for public employees full collective bargaining.