North Dakota AFL-CIO 59th Convention Resolutions

WHEREAS:     North Dakota does not have an ethics commission and there are few rules regarding transparency in campaign finance; and

WHEREAS:    North Dakotan’s for Public Integrity are circulating a petition to place an measure on that ballot entitled “Transparency of Funding Sources, Lobbyists, Conflicts of Interests, and the Establishment of an Ethics Commission” ; and

WHEREAS:   The North Dakota Anti-Corruption Amendment would require any campaign contribution of $200 or more to be reported publicly, electronically and in a timely fashion; and

WHEREAS:   Ban lobbyists from giving gifts to public officials; and

WHEREAS:    Ban lobbyists from giving public officials campaign contributions collected from other persons or entities; and

WHEREAS:    Ban public officials from using campaign contributions for personal use; and

WHEREAS:    Ban foreign governments and non-legal permanent residents from making any political contribution or expenditure; and

WHEREAS:    Ban public officials from becoming lobbyists for at least 2 years after leaving office; and

WHEREAS:    Establishes a North Dakota Ethics commission; and
    
RESOLVED:    The NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO endorses the efforts of North Dakotan’s for Public Integrity and the Anti-Corruption ballot measure.

WHEREAS:     The North Dakota AFL-CIO recognizes the chronic underfunding of  public schools in America; and

WHEREAS:    Teachers, staff, students and their families thrive when communities make a commitment to fully supporting public schools; and

WHEREAS:     Teachers, staff, students and their families are the best advocates for robustly-supported schools; and

WHEREAS:     Many teachers, staff, students and their families are part of our union family; and therefore be it
    
RESOLVED:    The North Dakota AFL-CIO fully supports and will stand in solidarity with teachers, staff, students and their families exercising their freedom to join together in union, harness their collective power, and speak with one voice for robustly supported public education in American.

WHEREAS:     The current political and economic landscape is tilted heavily in favor of big business and the wealthiest 1% and against working people and unions; and

WHEREAS:    Our freedom to join together in unions and negotiate a fair return on our work is under constant attack by these same groups; and

WHEREAS:  Unions have the power to change the political landscape when we use our collective voices in unison; and

WHEREAS:  The NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO has a democratic process to decide what candidates seeking political office support our union values and will receive an endorsement; and

WHEREAS:  Union members and their families trust fellow union members on political and economic decisions regarding union values, and

WHEREAS:  We have the tools to effectively educate our fellow union brothers and sisters and their families on which candidates have been endorsed; therefore be it
    
RESOLVED:    The NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO will work with labor councils and local unions to reach a goal of 2% of affiliate membership volunteering to educate fellow union members on our labor-endorsed candidates.

WHEREAS:   In 2016, the North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force had a total of  63 active human trafficking investigations, resulting in the identification of  92 potential victims and in the arrest of  13 individuals for human trafficking-related incidents. Of  those 16 individuals, 15 were criminally charged, and 10 ultimately pled or were found guilty. In the same year, the NDHTTF directly served 79 victims of  human trafficking. Seventy-five of  those victims were U.S. Citizens or legal permanent residents, and four were foreign nationals. Sixty-six of  them experienced sex trafficking, three experienced labor trafficking, and nine were victims of  both. Twenty-six victims were minors; and

WHEREAS:     Under North Dakota law, Human Trafficking includes: Children under 18 induced into commercial sex; adults aged 18 or over induced to commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion; and children and adults induced to perform labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion.

WHEREAS:    Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery; and

WHEREAS:     The North Dakota AFL-CIO opposes all forms of labor exploitation, including human trafficking, therefore be it
    
RESOLVED:    The NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO will support individuals and organizations that work to prevent human trafficking and help victims of human trafficking rebuild their lives, and will stand in solidarity with victims of human trafficking in North Dakota.

Whereas:    Our nation’s crumbling infrastructure is a massive, and growing, crisis, affecting our whole nation.  The ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), who maintain, manage and rebuild our infrastructure, gave our nation’s infrastructure its annual grade-- D+, and

Whereas:    The crisis is growing, as government spending on infrastructure drops rapidly.  In the ‘50s/60s federal/state governments spent over twice as much as today on infrastructure.  It will require nearly $5 Trillion to fix this problem over the next decade, according to ASCE, and

Whereas:    This crisis is multifaceted, harming our nation’s economy, our ability to recover economically, as well as creating a health crisis.  Water, sewer systems are in wide-spread disrepair and many cities, like Flint, Michigan have seen water safety levels fall to dangerous levels, with little government support.  1/3 of U.S. bridges and 1/4 schools, as well as nearly all dams, are over a half century old and must be replaced if our nation is to again move forward.  Our nation’s electric/power grid is badly in need of rebuild, suffering regular blackouts, and

Whereas:    The Trump administration has cited the need to rebuild infrastructure.  However that plan is based entirely on tax cuts to corporations/the wealthy, and on privatizing/turning major public properties/assets over to wealthy corporations, and would badly harm our economy.  As well, it ignores continued crises of unemployment, with latest figures showing over 50% unemployment among African American youth, 36% for Hispanic youth.  Poverty rates in Appalachia are now at 20%, and

Whereas:    HR 63 has been introduced as a REAL JOBS & INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD ACT, now having over 150 co-sponsors and wide coalition/public support addresses all these issues, is based on 10 core principles;
    • Invest federal funds in creating millions of jobs rebuilding our infrastructure.
    • Investments in infrastructure, not giving away public assets/tax cuts for rich.
    • ispanic youthHHhmmmFunds to go directly to infrastructure rebuild.
    • Prioritize racial/gender equality and environmental quality, worker justice.
    • ‘Buy American’ provisions, project labor agreements, union protections.
    • Target poorest communities for jobs, investment.
    • Wealthiest citizens pay their fair share, assuring economic justice.
    • No pulling funds from Social Security/Medicare, other areas.
    • Respect environmental protections, worker safety, wages, equitable hiring.
    • Prioritize resilient infrastructure to withstand disasters.

Therefore,  Be It Resolved;    That North Dakota AFL-CIO supports HR 63, urges our representatives at all levels to do all possible to support, urge passage of this REAL INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD & JOBS BILL!

WHEREAS:     The NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO has used the same procedures and registration forms for Convention delegates for decades; and

WHEREAS:    Changing technology and updated guidelines from the AFL-CIO may improve convention registration and tracking, resulting in increased delegate attendance at NORTH DAKOTA AFL-CIO conventions.

WHEREAS:   Convention registration procedures are found in the North Dakota AFL-CIO Constitution, Article IV; therefore be it

RESOLVED:    A Constitutional Revision Committee will be appointed to review current convention registration procedures and make recommendations to the North Dakota AFL-CIO at the next North Dakota AFL-CIO Convention.