Here's what you need to know this week:
The Florida AFL-CIO 2019 Biennial Convention was held this weekend, and we passed some very exciting resolutions. Here's what was resolved:
Resolution 1 (Equality and Inclusion): the Florida AFL-CIO will integrate issues and concerns of all union members, building a diverse and inclusive labor movement allowing us to leave a better future for our children.
Resolution 2 (Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act): the Florida AFL-CIO urges members of Florida’s U.S. Congressional delegation to cosponsor and work to pass S. 436/H.R. 1139, the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that is needed to save the lives of bus operators and passengers throughout Florida (and across the country).
Resolution 3 (Affordable, Consumer Driven Financial Services at the Post Office): the Florida AFL-CIO does hereby call on the U.S. Postal Service to expand and enhance existing services such as check cashing and international money transfers, and to take necessary steps towards designing and implementing additional financial services.
Resolution 4 (Fund Our Future - Decade of Progress): the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates and locals adopt and support the campaign toward a Decade of Progress moving Florida to the top ten states in the nation in per student funding, in teacher pay and in Staff Professional pay and will adopt and support the campaign to Fund our Future and advance the guiding principles of student success, the retention and recruitment of personnel and investment in public K-12 and higher education.
Resolution 5 (Climate Change): the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliated chapters and councils will take a leading role in recognizing climate change as a workers’ crisis and will advocate wherever and whenever possible and feasible (including but not limited to negotiations, local and statewide policy efforts, and community actions), that action be taken to mitigate this crisis while ensuring the protection and expansion of the livelihoods and opportunities for working people in the State of Florida.
Resolution 6 (Federal Workers' Collective Bargaining Rights): the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates call on Congress and the President to uphold the collective bargaining rights of federal workers and to stop unilaterally imposing contracts that eliminate the presence of the union in the federal workplace, severely restrict the conditions under which federal workers can bargain and undermine federal employees' right to union representation.
Resolution 7 (Convention Rescheduling): the Florida AFL-CIO Constitution and By-Laws be amended as follows to allow the Executive Committee to address disaster or other issues associated with the potential rescheduling of annual conventions.
This adds the following lines to sections on both the the Biennial and COPE conventions: "In the event of an unforeseeable emergency including but not limited to an impending hurricane, the Executive Committee is authorized to postpone such convention. The Executive officers shall reschedule such convention at the earliest possible date taking into consideration costs, availability of delegates/affiliates, and other matters that may arise."
Here's what's coming up:
- Polk County, mark your calendars! Elections for Lakeland City Commission will take place in November, and we'll be screening candidates on September 24th. The screenings will take place at 6PM at UFCW 1625 (705 E Orange St, Lakeland).
Keep in Mind:
Our October 1st CLC meeting (7PM; IBEW 824, 6603 E Chelsea St, Tampa) should be on your radar, as we will be joined by very special guests. President Mike Williams and Dr. Rich Templin from the Florida AFL-CIO will be in Tampa to present “Elections Have Consequences”, a breakdown of how union members voted in 2018 and how our state reps and senators voted in the 2019 legislative session. This presentation is highly informative, and it is specifically customized for our area. We hope to have a full house for this CLC Meeting, and this event is open and free to all of our members, allies, and community partners! Food will be provided.
That's all for this week! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more updates. If you would like to receive text message alerts from the Florida AFL-CIO (Msg & data rates may apply), text FLUNION to 235246!
In Solidarity,
West Central Florida Labor Council
If you have any comments, or would like something added to the newsletter, please let us know!