Massachusetts AFL-CIO Resolution In Support of the Initiatives of the Futures Program

 

Massachusetts AFL-CIO Resolution In Support of the Initiatives of the Futures Program
 
WHEREAS, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures Program was established to develop future labor leaders and grow the ranks of active members amongst younger workers, thereby ensuring the continued stewardship, growth and improvement of the Labor Movement in the commonwealth; and
 
WHEREAS, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures Program has already achieved great success in introducing hundreds of younger union members, from all sectors and industries, to the broader Labor Movement in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and
 
WHEREAS, a powerful Labor Movement can be built only through recognition and inclusion of the full diversity of the labor force, including workers of all ages; and

WHEREAS, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO has provided young union members a voice by establishing a designated seat on the Executive Council for a Futures Representative, approximately age 35 or under, elected by his or her fellow delegates at an annual Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures Convention; and
WHEREAS, delegates to the second annual Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures Convention, held in January of 2009, unanimously approved two resolutions calling on all Massachusetts Central Labor Councils to establish a designated “Futures Seat” on their Executive Board, and for all local unions in Massachusetts to establish a standing “Futures Committee”; and
 
WHEREAS, several local unions and Central Labor Councils have already acted on these resolutions; and
 
WHEREAS, the National AFL-CIO passed a resolution submitted by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO encouraging the spread of programs to develop and engage younger union members at its 26th Convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; therefore be it
 
RESOLVED that the Massachusetts AFL-CIO fully supports the initiatives of the Futures Program and urges all local unions to establish a standing “Futures Committee” for younger members, and for all Central Labor Councils to establish a “Futures Seat” on their Executive Board; and be it further
 
RESOLVED that local unions and Central Labor Councils will refer to the guidelines established in the resolutions passed at the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Futures Convention; and be it finally
 
RESOLVED that the President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will transmit a copy of this resolution to all relevant parties in order to demonstrate its ardent support of the initiatives of the Futures Program.
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
Robert J. Haynes, President
Louis A. Mandarini, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer