New Orleans, LANever has there been a more critical time for America's workers and their families to be heard in our nation's political debates. In 2002, working families and their unions, under the banner of the AFL-CIO, will advance an agenda for good jobs, strong families and corporate accountability, and a broad, united plan to mobilize working men and women for that agenda through grassroots legislative and political action at every level of government.
Over the last six years, the unions of the AFL-CIO have built an issues-based member mobilization program that is unparalleled in our nation. We have educated and mobilized our members and their families around the everyday issues that matter to them most. We have registered millions of union workers. We have elected thousands of union members to political office. We have increased union household members as a percentage of the overall vote to 26 percent in 2000 from 19 percent in 1992 - an increase of 4.8 million voters. We have held candidates accountable to working family issues and made the winning margin in race after race.
These gains have been achieved despite a growing cash gap between corporate and worker political contributions. In 1992, big business outspent unions 9 to 1; by 2000, business political spending outstripped unions 15 to 1. On a political playing field increasingly tilted to corporations and the very rich, working families have to work harder and smarter just to be heard.
The strength of the AFL-CIO program is that it relies on worksite-based, locally driven member education, registration and mobilization about working family issues. It has never been based on money. None of our mobilization fund goes to candidates, and our program is aimed at electing pro-working family champions, regardless of party.
In this vital election year - when scores of state and local races, 36 governorships and control of the U.S. House and Senate are at stake -- we intend to build on the momentum we have created and then take that momentum into the important Presidential elections in 2004.
In order to carry out an effective political program in the coming years, we must ensure sufficient, dependable resources for our united effort. In 1997, delegates to the AFL-CIO Convention took the important step of establishing a member mobilization fund to support our issues-based political activity among union members and their families. Today, every national union contributes to this fund, setting aside 6.5 cents of each monthly per capita tax payment to the AFL-CIO.
In the past three election cycles, this per capita tax funded amount has been augmented by voluntary contributions from national unions. The combination of these two resources has paid for our grassroots member mobilization activities.
Now that the program has demonstrated its success, the AFL-CIO Executive Council, for the past year, has been considering how best to put its funding into place on a continuing basis, rather than relying on raising voluntary funds for each cycle. A special committee on political funding has discussed alternative approaches.
After consideration of the options, the Council has determined that the fairest way to support this critically important member mobilization program is additional dedicated per capita tax payments.
The General Board of the AFL-CIO has been empowered to approve such an increase between national conventions, and we believe that the General Board should take such an action this spring so as to give affiliates sufficient notice of this increased requirement.
Therefore, under the authority granted to us under Article XI, Section 2 and Article XVI, Section 5 of the Constitution, the Executive Council issues a call for such a General Board meeting, to be held May 22, 2002 at the Sheraton New York Hotel, New York City, starting at 10 a.m.
The purpose of this General Board meeting will be to consider a proposal from the Executive Council for an increase in the regular per capita tax of the AFL-CIO in the amount of four cents per member per month effective for the payments due in July 2002, and continuing through December 2004. Such an increase shall be solely for the use of the Federation's Member Mobilization Fund, and shall increase the monthly allotment to that fund from 6.5 cents to 10.5 cents.
With a reliable stream of funding, the American labor movement will ensure a strong and continuing political voice for America's working families.