ResolutionNumber: C1
Year: 2002
Title:   UDHR ARTICLE 23

Resolved: Therefore be it resolved that if AIUSA management should be faced with a unionizing drive it will inform its staff of its support for the right to unionize and will remain completely neutral in the process; and

Be it further resolved that AIUSA management will not hire any attorneys or consultants for the purposes of resisting or endorsing unionization; and

Be it further resolved that AIUSA management will seek approval from the AIUSA Board of Directors to pursue a democratic, non-adversarial method for determining the wishes of its employees, such as a card check recognition procedure overseen by a neutral and mutually agreeable third party, should employees seek to organize a union in the future.


Implementation: This proposal relates to subparagraph 4 of Article 23, i.e. everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interest and is prospective in that it states in part that “..if AIUSA management should be faced with ….” When and if employees seek a unionizing drive management will at that time reiterate its position that employees have the right to unionize. All staff communication vehicles will be used to acknowledge that right. Senior managers will develop such a communication and share as quickly as possible. Concurrently, the Board of Directors will be notified that such an endeavor has taken place.
Update: In the fall of 2002, the AIUSA Board of Directors met with Jeff Zaino from American Arbitration Association (AAA). The presentation by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) was scheduled for the purposes of giving our Board and senior management a clear understanding of the rights and processes of workers to organize

In compliance with the resolution, should AIUSA workers want to form a union or explore such an option, the AAA will be retained to do the card count and SMS and the Board will remain neutral in the process.

Below are the statements issued by AIUSA’s Board, and the section, in support of the resolution.

Statement by Amnesty International USA, Board of Directors

The members of the Board of Directors of AIUSA, as directors of the organization and as individual members of the international human rights movement, express their unqualified support for the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively, as enshrined in numerous human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23. The Board of Directors strongly endorses the April 8, 2002, joint statement of AIUSA management and the AFL-CIO which, among other things, stated that since 1997, AIUSA has committed publicly to taking no position should an organizing drive be launched at AIUSA in the future, and that should that happen, AIUSA management will inform its staff of its support for their right to unionize and will remain completely neutral in the process. The Board of Directors reasserts that AIUSA is committed to defending and supporting the rights of all employees to organize and bargain collectively, if they so wish.

Joint Statement by Amnesty International USA and the AFL-CIO

On the occasion of the opening of the Human Rights Painting Project, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) and the ALF-CIO jointly express our unqualified support for the rights of workers to organize and bargain collectively, as enshrined in numerous human rights instruments. We are concerned that these rights are not adequately protected in the United States, and we intend to enter into a dialogue to identify ways we might work together to address this situation.

The management of AIUSA strongly supports the rights of all employees, including its own, to unionize, if that is their wish. Since 1997, AIUSA has committed publicly to taking no position should an organizing drive be launched at AIUSA in the future. Should that happen, AIUSA management will inform its staff of its support for their right to unionize and will remain completely neutral in the process. While AIUSA management reserves the right to obtain legal advice on labor relations, it will not hire any attorneys or consultants for the purposes of resisting unionization.

Management will seek approval from the AIUSA Board of Directors to pursue a democratic, non-adversarial method for determining the wishes of its employees, such as a card check recognition procedure overseen by a neutral and mutually agreeable third party, should employees seek to organize a union in the future.

The AFL-CIO, which is proud of its own tradition of advocating for human rights around the world, has long admired Amnesty International’s unflinching leadership in protecting the rights of people everywhere. The AFL-CIO applauds AIUSA’s commitment to uphold the rights of its own employees and looks forward to a broader exploration of workers rights in the U.S. with AIUSA.