Note:
This Resolution is submitted for discussion, dialog, debate and
action by the Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council as our part
in celebrating the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human
Rights on December 10, 2013: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Feel free to circulate.
Resolution
on Full Employment (705
words)
Where
as the politicians talk about “jobs, jobs, jobs” but have not
taken on to themselves the responsibility for "Full
employment;"
Where
as the “free market capitalist system” has proven to be very
unstable with boom and bust cycles---
and with
the massive unemployment producing bust cycles of economic “slumps,”
recessions, and depressions occurring with
greater frequency and with full
employment failing to be achieved
even during the short periods of economic boom;
Where
as "Full
employment" is
all about governmental accountability to the people;
Where
as "Full
employment" is
all about peace and democracy;
Where
as "Full
employment" is
all about the most fundamental human right of all--- the right to a
job at a real living wage;
Where
as unemployment is the major source of poverty for tens of millions
of people;
Where
as unemployed workers are going to be poor;
Where
as unemployment has been used by government,
business
and industry as an “economic lever” to keep all wages down
instead
of controlling prices of food, housing, health care, college tuition,
electricity, home heating fuels and gas to create a more stable
economy;
Where
as wars kill jobs just like they kill people;
Where
as the “Full Employment Act of 1945” would have mandated “Full
Employment”
which was passed by the United States Senate but defeated by the U.S.
House after a massive campaign by big business interests who realized
they were about to lose super-profits obtained by unemployment
pushing all wages down;
Where
as the
United
Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights
declares
in no uncertain terms:
Article
23.
(1)
Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just
and favourable conditions of work and to protection against
unemployment.
(2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has
the right to equal pay for equal work.
(3) Everyone who
works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for
himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and
supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
(4)
Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the
protection of his interests.
Article
24.
Everyone
has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of
working hours and periodic holidays with pay.
Article
25.
(1)
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food,
clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and
the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness,
disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in
circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and
childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children,
whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social
protection.
Therefore,
be it resolved a
“Full Employment Act” to be known as the “21st
Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity”
shall
be enacted which
shall include:
1. A mandate requiring the president and
Congress to work together to attain and maintain full employment.
2.
Rely on government programs making the the government the employer of
first choice whenever required.
3.
Include a provision for the enforcement of Affirmative Action to
assure people of color, women and the handicapped receive the jobs to
which they are entitled.
4.
Include a Minimum Wage provision making the federal Minimum Wage a
real living wage based on all “cost-of-living” factors as
monitored and tracked by the United States Department of Labor's
Bureau of Labor Statistics, indexed to inflation quarterly and
periodically increased to provide an improved standard-of-living.
5.
A guaranteed annual income the equivalent of a living wage during any
period of time when employment is not available for individuals.
Therefore,
be it resolved that the “21st
Century Full Employment Act for Peace and Prosperity”
shall
provide the guidance to create jobs by putting people to work solving
the most pressing problems of people and society.
Therefore,
be it resolved that all funds required to finance “Full
Employment” shall
come from “peace dividends,” a hefty tax on Wall Street
transactions and profits along
with
taxing the rich.
Therefore,
be it resolved this resolution becomes the position of (name of
organization/party) on Full Employment.