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AFT Resolutions Approved by Executive CouncilSince the 2020 ConventionA Robust Response to the COVID-19Pandemic (2020)WHEREAS, while the COVID-19 virus is a new medicalchallenge to humanity, the resources and expertiseneeded to confront and transcend this challenge werealready in place prior to its emergence; andWHEREAS, public health officials, scientific researchersand rank-and-file medical professionals have workedtogether to produce detailed science-based and datadriven action plans to respond to emerging pathogensthat keep frontline healthcare workers safe and thegeneral public healthy; andWHEREAS, these same professionals work diligently inreal time to make evidence-based updates to theseprotocols and plans to adapt them to the circumstancescreated by a specific public health risk; andWHEREAS, these plans, especially as coordinated bythe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, havebeen the foundation for global responses to emerginginfectious diseases; andWHEREAS, these evidenced-base plans have beenimportant to our strategies in suppressing novelpathogens like the H1N1 (swine) influenza virus and theEbola virus, as well as managing endemic diseasessuch as the seasonal flu; andWHEREAS, it is absolutely critical for the success ofthese emerging pathogen containment strategies thatthere be coordination by multiple groups acrossjurisdictional boundaries and that the public haveconfidence in public health agencies, researchinstitutions and medical practitioners; anddriven by the political considerations of the president’sre-election campaign rather than the science andpractitioner experience that are necessary to suppressthe virus; andWHEREAS, the Trump administration has abdicated itsnational and global leadership role in responding to thepandemic, hampering and at times outright underminingefforts to bring the disease under control, protectfrontline healthcare workers and create the safeconditions for a robust economic recovery, including asafe return to classroom instruction in our systems of K12 and higher education; andWHEREAS, the Trump administration’s frequent andongoing politicization of critical public health andscientific policies around the novel coronavirus haseroded public trust in the agencies and entities we mustrely upon to manage the pandemic, thus continuing toerode our collective ability to suppress the pandemic andresume a more normal daily life; andWHEREAS, the Trump administration’s continuingfailures have cost the lives of more than 200,000 peoplein the United States and have had a negative impact onmillions more; andWHEREAS, in contrast to the Trump administration’schaotic and overly politicized COVID-19 response,former Vice President Joe Biden has already released ascience-based plan to help mitigate this pandemic, andhas the proven track record to successfully implement it,as per his previous pandemic management during theObama-Biden administration:WHEREAS, the Trump administration, time and again,has refused to draw upon the wealth of expertise fromdecades of scientific research and data-tested publichealth experience to combat the spread of the novelcoronavirus in favor of an “ad hoc strategy”; andRESOLVED, that the American Federation ofTeachers calls on elected officials at all levels ofgovernment to develop public policy around thecoronavirus pandemic based on good evidence andscience, drawing upon the expertise of medicalpractitioners, public health experts and academicresearchers; andWHEREAS, the Trump administration’s “strategy” fordealing with the novel coronavirus—such as it is—isRESOLVED, that the AFT fights for a robust publichealth infrastructure at the federal, state and localAFT Resolutions and Policy / 5

levels that revitalizes our public health workforce,enhances the efforts of our state and local healthdepartments, modernizes our antiquated publichealth data systems, and increases researchcapacity at public science agencies and researchinstitutions; andRESOLVED, that the AFT continues to demand acoordinated, evidence-based federal responsedeveloped by public health officials with the input ofmedical practitioners, research scientists andacademic experts that addresses the shortage ofpersonal protective equipment for frontline workers,the inadequate supply of testing materials andscarcity of tests, the shortage of medical equipmentfor the sick and other challenges to fighting thepandemic that can only be overcome with federalcoordination; andRESOLVED, that the AFT will support and promoteuniversal masking and safety precautions as anessential non-pharmaceutical intervention inbringing the pandemic under control and beginningto reopen our institutions and economy; 1 andRESOLVED, that the AFT will demand a rigorousvaccine approval process by the U.S. Food and DrugAdministration to ensure the public confidence in asafe vaccine that will be necessary for its effectivedistribution; andRESOLVED, that the AFT will fight for a safe vaccinethat is equitably distributed and free to all; andRESOLVED, that the AFT demands that the UnitedStates re-engage with the World Health Organizationand work to regain the world’s trust as an activepartner and leader in global public health; andRESOLVED, that the AFT supports and continues tovigorously defend public servants who have workeddiligently to develop evidence-based protocols frompolitical interference that is harmful to public healthand human security, especially those who bravelystep forward to expose instances whereshortsighted politics trumps science; andpublic institutions, will work to elect Joe Biden asthe 46th president of the United States.Essential Principles for a COVID-19Vaccine (2020)WHEREAS, vaccines are proven to be the most effectivestrategy to reduce and eliminate the spread of infectiousdiseases and are an important and necessary tool foreradicating disease. We sometimes forget how thelandscape looks in an unvaccinated population; andWHEREAS, we have entered into a dangerous time inour nation’s politics where even fundamental andscientifically noncontroversial public health responseshave been deeply politicized and ignored by many; andWHEREAS, there is nothing political about securing theresources and funding to protect our kids, ourcommunities and our health, yet the Trumpadministration’s chaotic and overtly politicized responseto the COVID-19 pandemic has needlessly risked thelives of hundreds of thousands of Americans; andWHEREAS, in order to ensure the safety and efficacy ofa COVID-19 vaccine and the public’s trust in it, it isessential that any possible vaccine successfullycomplete all of the steps of the Food and DrugAdministration’s normal rigorous testing and reviewprocess, even if on an accelerated timeline.Fundamentally, the medical community must be allowedto do its work, and we must trust science, even if itmeans the vaccine isn’t available as quickly as we wouldhope; andWHEREAS, once an effective, safe COVID-19 vaccinehas been approved by the FDA, the United States mustcreate a fair, equitable and efficient distribution systemat scale, which only the federal government can ensure.A well-developed and resourced public healthinfrastructure is critical to ensuring vaccine distributionand administration meets people where they are,whether at work or in the community; andRESOLVED, that the AFT, in order to create theconditions where we can begin to restore faith in ourWHEREAS, we cannot rely on our profit-drivenhealthcare system as a model for vaccination, as it willleave vulnerable communities with vaccine deserts, justas it has for access to necessary healthcare; andConflicting and inconsistent messages from officials at thehighest levels of government have needlessly served to spreaddisease, including holding indoor campaign rallies whereattendees are not wearing masks.WHEREAS, many of the steps our nation has taken tosafeguard our communities against COVID-19 havebeen conditioned upon the development and ultimateavailability of a vaccine; and16 / AFT

WHEREAS, the American Federation of Teachersunderstands that initial vaccine production will not besufficient for all people to be vaccinated at the outset. Awell-managed national priority distribution plan must givepriority to the most highly vulnerable in the community,including essential workers; andWHEREAS, high influenza vaccination rates will helplimit the impact on hospitals treating COVID-19, andonce one has taken the flu vaccination, the flu canusually be ruled out as a cause of symptoms for thosetaking a COVID-19 test, making COVID-19 testing moreefficient; andWHEREAS, workers in a wide variety of settings—healthcare, education, public employment, meat packingand agriculture, among others—are at increased risk ofwork-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus thatcauses COVID-19. These workers are entitled to allevidence-based, employer-provided protections fromexposure at work, including access to a safe andeffective COVID-19 vaccine; andWHEREAS, given the nature of congregation andpotential for community spread in schools, the AFTrecently implored the National Academies of Sciences,Engineering, and Medicine to move teachers and schoolstaff up to the first tier of priority when a vaccine is readyfor distribution because of their level of exposure; andWHEREAS, the AFT knows that many people areskeptical about the vaccine, and the World HealthOrganization cites vaccine hesitancy as one of the 10biggest threats to global health; 2 andWHEREAS, communities of color, such as Blackcommunities, have a well-warranted distrust in newvaccines, stemming from centuries of medicalexperimentation and long-standing discrimination anddifficulty with access in our healthcare system. With only28 percent of Black people planning to get the firstgeneration COVID-19 vaccine, 3 it is essential that thoseparticipating in COVID-19 vaccine trials represent the fullracial diversity of the population that will be vaccinated.Additionally, it is critical that those developing thevaccines share information about how they areconducting their late-stage trials, including demographicinformation on trial subjects, trial methodology andWorld Health Organization, “Ten Threats to Global Health in2019,” balhealth-in-2019.3 Bryan Walsh, “Axios-Ipsos Poll: The Racial Gap onCoronavirus Vaccine,” Axios, Aug. 26, 2020.2protocols, safety precautions that are being taken, etc.;andWHEREAS, vaccination, even if the most effective toolto prevent infection, must only be part of acomprehensive strategy. Vaccines are never 100percent effective, and other protective strategies muststay in place in the community and the workplace. Agood workplace model for this approach is theOccupational Safety and Health Administration’sbloodborne pathogen standard, which requiresemployers to assess potential exposures throughout afacility and then develop a plan to address thoseexposures. This standard mandates that the employeroffer the hepatitis B vaccine free of charge to at-riskworkers, along with education on the benefits of thevaccine. And to strengthen vaccine acceptance anduptake, the standard also requires rigorous annualeducation and training on the benefits of vaccination aswell as comprehensive measures that addressexposure-control methods in the facility:RESOLVED, that the American Federation ofTeachers supports robust and rigorous vaccinationprograms for both influenza and COVID-19; andRESOLVED; that, in order to protect hospitalcapacity in the event of increased COVID-19infections, it is more important than ever for all AFTmembers to take the flu vaccine; andRESOLVED, that the AFT will not endorse a COVID19 vaccine until it has been proven to be both safeand effective by science; andRESOLVED, that the federal government should rollout a coordinated vaccination plan with the goal ofeveryone having a COVID-19 vaccine. The programmust have an effective communication andeducation strategy, as recommended by the Centerfor Health Security COVID-19 Working Group, 4 sothat the nation achieves 70 percent of the populationbeing vaccinated in the coming year, the medicallyand ethically appropriate way to achieve immunitywithin our society. The weight of responsibilitycannot solely rest with the states; the federal4 M. Schoch-Spana, E. Brunson, R. Long, S. Ravi, A. Ruth andM. Trotochaud on behalf of the Working Group on ReadyingPopulations for COVID-19 Vaccine, The Public’s Role inCOVID-19 Vaccination: Planning Recommendations Informedby Design Thinking and the Social, Behavioral, andCommunication Sciences (Baltimore, MD: Johns HopkinsCenter for Health Security, 2020).AFT Resolutions and Policy / 7

government must maintain active oversight of theprogram. Distribution planning should be based onprinciples of equity, safety and priority, and the planshould include robust efforts to address a highdegree of skepticism about its safety; andRESOLVED, that once a COVID-19 vaccine has beenproven to be safe and effective through the normal,rigorous U.S. Food and Drug Administration process,the AFT will urge all members to take COVID-19vaccines; andRESOLVED, that once proven to be safe andeffective, the COVID vaccine must be free to all whoreceive it; the AFT opposes any policy that makeshealth insurance or financial resources aprerequisite for accessing the vaccine; andRESOLVED, that employers in schools, healthcareand other settings should be mandated to provide: All employees with access to the vaccine atno cost to the employees as it becomesavailable; and Vaccination during work hours at the worksite for employees working in person, as wellas an option to receive the vaccine at no costwith a healthcare provider; and Employee education that includes the risksand benefits of the vaccination, as well asthe known efficacy rates of the vaccine; and An informed declination for those who optout after receiving education as describedabove; andRESOLVED, that employers must bargain in goodfaith with their employees over their specific vaccinedistribution plans so that vaccination is convenientand readily available for employees to access; andRESOLVED, that the Occupational Safety and HealthAdministration must accelerate the promulgation ofan infectious disease standard to address thispandemic and to be prepared for future outbreaks,including enforcement of exposure guidelines andspecific requirements for personal protectiveequipment for individuals who decline the vaccine.8 / AFTProtecting American Democracy (2020)The 2020 election is a test of who we are as Americansand what we will do to preserve our democracy when itis in mortal peril.Throughout our history, Americans have risen to themoment to extend and defend democracy. From theabolitionists and suffragists who risked their freedom inthe fights against slavery and to secure the vote, to theworking people who faced violence and repression whenthey organized unions and defended free speech, andfrom the armed forces who defeated fascism in a worldwar, to the civil rights activists who fought the Jim CrowSouth, Americans have made immense sacrifices andput our lives on the line to make the democratic promiseof “liberty and justice for all” a reality. The AmericanFederation of Teachers—our members, our locals, ourstate federations and our national organization—hasbeen part of that democratic quest: We fought againstfascism here and abroad, including our participation inthe great battles of all of our civil rights movements.Today, we in the AFT face a historic challenge. DonaldTrump’s presidency has been marked by a series ofattacks on the democratic institutions and norms of ourgovernment and civil society: assaults on the rule of law;an independent judiciary; a free press; the separation ofgovernmental powers; the right to protest; equality underthe law; the rights of people of color, believers in minorityreligious faiths and immigrants; the freedom ofassociation of working people; and more. This endlessbarrage has taken a deep and destructive toll on ourpolitical life, our national psyche and our national identity,threatening to lay waste to our country’s motto: Epluribus unum—out of many, one.Now, in the final weeks leading up to the 2020 election,in the midst of a surging coronavirus pandemic and asAmericans are voting, Trump and his supporters havemounted an offensive on the very foundation ofdemocracy—the power of the people to choose theirgovernment through free and fair elections.The AFT is unequivocal and unwavering in ourresponse: We stand for American democracy.Democracy is a defining principle of our work aseducators, healthcare professionals and state and localgovernment workers, and a core value of who we are asunionists and citizens. Our vote is our voice and asacred right upon which freedom depends. We see nochoice: To be true to ourselves and the values we hold

dear, we must rise to the defense of democracy.While our opposition to Trump is clear, our defense ofthe right to vote, the requirement to count every vote andthe assurance that the will of the voters must determinewho is president must not depend on a presidentialpreference.In the coming days, we will do everything in our power tosupport our fellow citizens in the effort to exercise theirdemocratic franchise and cast their votes. We willremain engaged with fellow democracy defenders to seethat those votes are counted and the will of the peoplereflected in the peaceful transition of power to thelegitimate winners of our free and fair elections.To ensure that the will of the people is respected in the2020 elections, we dedicate ourselves to the followingfour propositions: Every American citizen registered to votemust be able to vote. In the context of thecurrent pandemic, voters must have the ability tocast their ballot in ways that do not endangertheir health, such as mail ballots and early voting,as well as sufficient ways to vote on Nov. 3.There must be sufficient numbers of pollingstations and election officials for all voters tovote. Intimidation of voters must not be allowedto stand; and Every vote must be counted. Given theunprecedented numbers of votes that have beencast early and by mail, the final tally will not beknown on election night. Indeed, there may notbe enough of a vote count available on Nov. 3 toproject who has won. Counting must continueuntil all votes have been counted; and The electoral verdict of “we the people” mustbe respected. It is not the right of those inpower—whether they be in the White House,Congress and the Supreme Court, or in statecapitols and local governments—to decide whogoverns us. It is the right of the people, and thepeople alone. The reins (or leadership) ofgovernment must be transferred p

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers' officers and executive council express solidarity with the teachers unions and organizations delivering humanitarian relief to Honduras in the wake of the largest natural disaster to hit the country and the region; and RESOLVED, that the AFT—working with our allies in