About the Committe:
The AFA mission statement defines our core value: “To promote economic and social justice for all workers through education and action.” Our commitment to equal treatment of all individuals, regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression is resolute.
Our gender, religion, race, and culture, and life experiences shape who we are and our set of values. We are all products of our life experiences.
We have more in common than that which divides us. It is incumbent upon us to build our solidarity around our common fight for decent pay, benefits, working conditions and respect on the job. We need to celebrate and respect our diversity to build our power and blunt union buster tactics to divide us to make us work more for less.
Different does not mean better or worse, inferior or superior. Our diversity is our greatest strength. When we support each other we also build our power and the ability to effect change in our workplace and in our communities.
Composition and Qualifications:
Committee members must be committed to the study of human rights; civil rights; women rights; equality through economic and social justice for all workers; diversity, racism and discrimination.
Members should have experience in, or express a strong interest in learning, organizing and possess the skills necessary to support and participate in union campaigns. Prior involvement in community, state and local volunteerism and activism, is a plus.
Purpose and Scope:
An active Human Rights Committee will assist the Local in creating a safe space for people share their personal experiences in relation to age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, gender expression and political orientation so that we better understand each other and build our union through our common struggles and goals, rather than allowing union busters to divide us by differences. This message will increase the credibility and the strength of the Local.
Human Rights Committees will actively partner with progressive community allies to build activism and power through training, organizing and political action. The committee will strive to include the broader community in our local struggle for justice, democracy, dignity and respect for all.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- The Human Rights Committee will provide support for work on union campaigns and programs including; collective bargaining, organizing, voter registration information and get out the vote drives, informing members on legislation that impacts working men and women and community service and outreach programs.
- Inform the membership on laws and protections affecting them.
- Work closely with State and National Civil Rights and Equity and Women’s Committee Representatives.
- Meet regularly with other committee members to discuss relevant issues.
- Strengthen our union by working with communities, minority, and women’s organizations and coalitions which aim to eliminate discrimination and racism.
- The ongoing study of matters related to the strengthening of our Union through the promotion of and support for economic, racial, and social justice equity for all workers;
- Recommendations for participation by our MEC and LECs with minority, women’s, and LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community organizations and coalitions which aim to eliminate discrimination and racism;
- Recommendations for creating safe spaces within our Union for people to share their personal experiences in relation to age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, gender expression and political orientation so that we better understand each other and build our Union through our common struggles and goals, rather than allowing union busters to divide us by differences;
- Recommendations for educational materials and resources relevant to civil and human rights issues that affect our Members and communities;
- Recommendations on how to facilitate training around the issues of Human Rights and Equity; and
Developing a productive working relationship with the company to ensure they are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace for all Flight Attendants.
Reporting:
- Committee members are responsible for coordinating with the LEC chair, who then shall report to the LEC officers and MEC chair.
- The committee shall report to the LEC officers and keep them informed of all activities.
- The committee will act as liaison between the State and Local Community allies, the membership and the LEC officers.
- The committee shall not create policy.