RESOLUTION ON THE REPORT OF THE AFT FUTURES COMMITTEE

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachers has devoted two and one-half years to an unprecedented examination of its mission, structure and policies related to service delivery, budget, and relationships among the three levels of the union¾local, state and national; and

WHEREAS, this process involved more than 1,500 AFT leaders from all constituencies, all regions of the country, and all types of affiliates¾large and small, bargaining and non-bargaining, those established and those fighting to become established in places where it is still quite daring to be associated with the union movement; and

WHEREAS, this experience has resulted in the articulation of a compelling vision for the AFT, a vision that expresses our commitment to fighting both for the well-being of our members and the success of the institutions in which we work¾the latter being essential to the very survival of our union and the union movement in general; and

WHEREAS, this vision is accompanied by recommendations to further empower our five constituencies so they may better address their special issues and concerns while also working together to accomplish more than each could do alone; and

WHEREAS, the Report of the AFT Futures Committee also includes recommendations to further establish our commitment to membership democracy and participation, our responsiveness to the needs of members, and our devotion to building a union that continues to offer hope and inspiration to working people across the country and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, seven constitutional amendments recommended by the AFT Futures Committee have been adopted by this convention:

RESOLVED, that the 72^nd Convention of the American Federation of Teachers accept and endorse the Report of the AFT Futures Committee; and

RESOLVED, that this convention also urge all AFT leaders to work toward the successful implementation of the report’s recommendations, particularly the notion that AFT should continue the dialogue that led to the report’s compilation and will point the way toward continual learning and improvement within the union.