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RESOLUTION 1

Resolution 1: One Union, Many Voices
- A Resolution for Language Justice
 

Whereas, language is fundamental to human expression and understanding, and access to language is essential for equitable participation in society;
 
Whereas, language barriers can disproportionately impact marginalized and underserved populations, limiting their access to vital services, information and opportunities;
 
Whereas, language justice is rooted in a history of resistance by communities and people whose voices and cultures have been suppressed for generations, and serves as an alternative to historical patterns of disenfranchisement and oppression;
 
Whereas, language justice offers a vision of a society that honors language and culture as fundamental human rights and that alters institutions to provide space for full democratic participation;
 
Whereas, language justice helps build power by opening doors to new members, leaders and forms of leadership, and creates a more inclusive organization and labor movement;

Whereas, ensuring language justice requires proactive measures to guarantee that all individuals, regardless of linguistic background, have equal access to information, services, and participation in decision-making processes;
 
Whereas, SEIU API Caucus is a multiethnic, multilingual and diverse membership that strives to foster unity and solidarity;
 
Whereas, SEIU API Caucus connects achieving language justice as a concrete step in transforming our union into an anti-racist organization, as we ensure full participation and leadership of union members and not yet union workers;
 
Whereas, racial justice cannot be achieved without language justice, and language justice requires an organizational commitment and investment;

Whereas, SEIU API Caucus holds the core belief that language justice is a key component of our union’s commitment to racial, social and economic justice, and will uphold language justice in all of our work;

Therefore, be it resolved, SEIU API Caucus will provide resources to build internal capacity both in theory and practice, including but not limited to:
 

  • Conduct a survey to understand and identify language needs and preferences of our members during new member orientation, organizing campaigns, union’s census, negotiations, etc.;

  • Expanding our union term-base, glossaries and member rights per language for communications, interpreters and translators;

  • Create a plan for providing translation of materials and interpretation services for meetings;

  • Ensure that key documents, websites, and communications are available in multiple languages

  • Create a space where members can share their languages and cultures, fostering mutual respect and understanding, and,

 
Be it further resolved, SEIU API Caucus commits to regularly evaluating the effectiveness of our language justice efforts and holding ourselves accountable for progress towards achieving language justice goals.

(Respectfully submitted by the SEIU API Caucus Executive Board

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