UNAC/UHCP 2018 CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS

UNAC/UHCP 2018 CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS

UNAC/UHCP 2018 CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS Table of Contents Defending California from Right-To-Work... 1 Member and Community Engagement... 2-3 New Member Orientation... 4 Organizing Outside Southern California... 5 PEOPLE... 6 Political Contributions... 7 Union Position... 8-9 *Resolutions have been placed in order by Title

Resolution Defending California from Right-To-Work Whereas, Workers who live in so-called Right-to-Work (RTW) states union or non-union earn $1,500 less per year than non-rtw states; and Whereas, The term right-to-work is designed to mislead workers into believing that their individual power is equal to their employer s power. RTW assures no worker a job, protects no worker against employer bias or management retaliation, and undermines a worker s right to union representation and the ability to build a strong union that bargains for fair wages and good benefits; and Whereas, Right-to-Work laws foster disunity by encouraging workers to freeload on their union sisters and brothers by enjoying the good wages, benefits and job protections negotiated by union members without sharing the costs of winning those gains; and Whereas, So called right-to-work laws allow workers to receive the benefits of a union contract without paying the cost necessary to secure those benefits; and Whereas, Contrary to claims made by proponents of so-called right-to-work laws, research shows that such laws have no impact on economic growth, no influence on employment and are correlated with a decrease in wages; and Whereas, So-called right-to-work laws are at the top of the agenda of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a corporate-funded organization where corporate donors have equal say with elected state legislators in deciding policies and priorities. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP and its affiliates will continue to lobby, work in coalitions and identify supportive politicians, to stop all efforts to implement so-called right-to-work laws and roll back such laws where exist; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP and its affiliates will continue to counter the lies advanced by those individuals and organizations determined to weaken and destroy labor unions, by educating the public and elected officials about the real purpose and effect of so-called right-to-work laws. Submitted by: 1

Resolution - Member and Community Engagement WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of UNAC/UHCP members are the frontline nurses, health care professionals and health care workers caring for millions of patients in California and Hawaii; and WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP members are the heart of health care, in a diverse blend of multi-billion-dollar health systems, government and community-based hospitals, for-profit and non-profit health delivery models; and WHEREAS, The international and national standards for public health recognize the social determinants of health, including one s living, learning and working conditions, are predictors of well-being for communities; and WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP has a long history of community engagement in supporting non-profit, member and labor-driven initiatives to raise awareness and address issues such as poverty, unstable housing, food insecurity, human trafficking, domestic violence and the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society; and WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP members continue to take on challenges to ensure access to quality care for our patients by addressing socioeconomic disparities in our communities by continuing to win and enforce strong union contracts; and WHEREAS, The need for social upliftment and pro-active collective action driven by health care professionals to create sustainable solutions for issues such as the mental health crisis, the on-going opioid epidemic, emerging and imminent disasters in vulnerable communities will continue to escalate as disparities in the distribution of resources worsens; and WHEREAS, Thousands of UNAC/UHCP members surveyed over the last twelve months expressed interest to volunteer for projects addressing homelessness, additional marginalized people, domestic violence survivors support, mentorship of future health care professionals, women and children s needs, mobile clinic and disaster relief projects; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP members continue with on-going community service projects and work with the State Office to 1) identify the unique needs our respective areas (using tools and resources available through public health agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and local health departments), 2) enhance recruitment and engagement of union members and their families in community initiatives and 3) identify community-based partner organizations; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Hundreds of delegates taking action during this convention session to make monetary donations, collect toiletries, mobilize donations and sign-up volunteers for upcoming local relief projects for homeless communities this winter, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP delegates assembled today make a commitment to the community and the underprivileged to challenge our members to volunteer their time and expertise for union community 2

engagement initiatives, to be involved as advocates for a brighter and healthier future for all. Submitted by: 3

Resolution - New Member Orientation Whereas, New hire orientations are a strategic tool for building union power. High-quality orientations have proven to increase sign ups among new hires and strengthen their commitment to the union. Committed members are more likely to stand with the union in the face of tough bargaining fights and political attacks. Whereas, Research shows that member commitment is strongest and most lasting in new hires who experience both formal socialization and informal socialization into the union. Whereas, UNAC/UHCP affiliate leaders have an opportunity and obligation to meet face to face (formal socialization) with new members upon employment within their organization; And Whereas, New UNAC/UHCP members shall have access to affiliate union leaders for any questions or issues that may arise during their course of employment; Therefore, be it resolved, UNAC/UHCP affiliate leaders will follow up (informal socialization) with all new members 30, 60 and 90 days after onset of employment within the organization; And be it further resolved, through follow up with new hires, UNAC/UHCP will be established as a trusted recourse to new members and provide communication about current events such as General Membership Meetings, community service activities and work site campaigns. Submitted by: Pettis Memorial Registered Nurse Association (PMRNA) 4

Resolution Organizing Outside Southern California Whereas, Labor Unions are threatened like never before and these attacks aim to silence our voice to advocate for our jobs, our patients, our families and our communities by destroying collective bargaining rights; and Whereas, In order to maintain and augment our power as a union, we must continue to grow our membership; and Whereas, Working people and our union are stronger when we are united in a common effort to improve our lives and the lives of our patients; and Whereas, UNAC/UHCP is one of the most progressive healthcare locals in AFSCME and UNAC/UHCP Nurses and Health Professionals are proven leaders in the fight for safe, quality patient care and against the corporatization of patient care; and Whereas, UNAC/UHCP is leading a resurgence of activism through our membership engagement program and we are recognized within AFSCME as a model for internal organizing. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP will work to provide representation or affiliation to healthcare unions outside of Southern California where such locals recognize the strength and power an affiliation with UNAC/UHCP would bring. Submitted by: 5

Resolution PEOPLE WHEREAS, AFSCME s PEOPLE program was created to educate, empower and engage AFSCME members in the political process. Through voluntary contributions to PEOPLE, AFSCME members exercise their political strength across the United States to support political efforts that will protect the labor movement; WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP, a private sector affiliate of NUHHCE and AFSCME International, has embraced the opportunity to engage its members in the PEOPLE program and achieve the power to win goals established by AFSCME, in which every AFSCME union has a goal of enrolling 10 percent of its members as MVP contributors to the PEOPLE program; WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP has been recognized every year, since 2014 by AFSCME International and AFSCME California for being a national leader in the PEOPLE program and maintaining 10 percent MVP enrollment; WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP occupies the 9 th place nationally in AFSCME International for PEOPLE revenue raised; WHEREAS, more than half of UNAC/UHCP affiliates have more than 10 percent of their affiliate members enrolled in the PEOPLE program; WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP affiliates are committed to growing the PEOPLE program and building strength in AFSCME; WHEREAS, UNAC/UHCP has transitioned its PEOPLE program to include UNAC/UHCP Champion and GO BIG contribution levels. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP will continue to support affiliates to grow the PEOPLE program, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP affiliates with direct withdrawal, will reach an affiliate goal of 15 percent MVP enrollment by 2020, and 5 percent UNAC/UHCP Champion enrollment, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, UNAC/UHCP will prioritize increasing voluntary contributions to the PEOPLE program to achieve a top 5 place in AFSCME International. Submitted by: Kaiser San Diego Health Care Professionals Association (KSDHCPA) 6

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RESOLUTION Union Position WHEREAS, United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), has undergone tremendous change since 1972. WHEREAS, in 46 years UNAC/UHCP has grown from 117 members and 7 affiliates to almost 32,000 members and 28 affiliates. WHEREAS, on September 24, 1972, the UNAC/UHCP constitution was adopted and has been revised 28 times through Convention proceedings; WHEREAS, through subsequent conventions, revisions to the constitution have been made; some have included governance structure, affiliations to NUHHCE and AFSCME, operations guidance, and even expansion of eligible health care workers for membership; WHEREAS, the constitution should reflect present-day governance of the union. WHEREAS, the labor movement is under attack, and union growth has become more difficult, and political strength has become an important component to protect the rights of workers and licenses of UNAC/UHCP members; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the UNAC/UHCP Constitution needs to be relevant to the union of not only today but of the future. A committee shall be formed with members in good standing from the general membership, the Executive Council, and the Board of Directors. Final committee members will be designated by the Executive Council. The committee shall be tasked with reviewing the constitution and providing recommendations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Appointed committee shall review in its entirety the UNAC/UHCP Constitution, including governance structure, best practices derived from the authority given by the constitution, and how the business of the organization is conducted; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Constitution should reflect protecting the union against potential threats due to anti-union legislation, including Right to Work, judicial rulings such as Janus v AFSCME, and administrative rulings such as Presidential orders or NLRB decisions. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the committee shall provide regular updates to the Executive Council; complete its work by January 2020; and prepare a final presentation of its findings and declarations to the Executive Council. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, an Amendment Committee will craft amendments from the approved recommendations to be presented at the 2020 Biennial Convention. 8

SUBMITTED BY: KSBHPA SPNN KSDHCPA PMRNA 9