US Labor Against The War meets

Submitted by AWL on 17 December, 2004 - 9:58

United States labor’s antiwar forces took a giant step forward when U.S. Labor Against the War’s National Leadership Assembly concluded successfully on Saturday, December 4 in Chicago, IL.A total of 136 people participated, exceeding the number expected. A preliminary review of credentials indicates that 87 delegates from 57 labor organizations, joined by 39 observers from 29 organizations and more than 10 guests hammered out a plan of work for USLAW for 2005. Several organizations affiliated at the Assembly. The breakdown of affiliates by type of organization follows at the close of this report.

The Assembly met at the Teamsters Local 705 headquarters. It was called to order by Co-Convenor Gene Bruskin. (Coconvenor Bob Muehlenkamp was unable to attend due to his responsibilities in running a strike in California.) The participants were welcomed to Chicago by Noel Beasley, International Vice President and Chicago Joint Board officer of UNITE HERE. Brother Bruskin also welcomed a delegation from the New Trade Union Initiative of India which is touring the U.S. sponsored by Jobs with Justice on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Union Carbide Bhopal environmental disaster.

Bill Fletcher, President of TransAfrica Forum and former Education Director of the AFL-CIO, delivered the keynote address on the presidential election, which, reflecting the sentiments of most participants, received an enthusiastic welcome.

He observed that the Bush margin of 3% was hardly a landslide and that 65 – 70% of labor voters voted for Kerry. White men who were union voters were more likely to vote for Kerry than non-union white men. Terrorism, in some respects, has become the focal point for societal anxieties felt by white America as their world collapses. The right-wing use of ‘values’ gave people who otherwise feel very powerless an opportunity to influence something in their lives. The cry in much of the United States is not for justice, understanding, reparations, dialogue…but order. However, Bush’s notion of security is security at the expense of the rest of the world. Yet security for us with insecurity for the rest of the world ultimately means insecurity for us.

The war issue could have been used by the AFL-CIO and other forces to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the Administration and the manner in which the public was being ‘played,’ but the AFL-CIO failed to do so, preferring to focus solely on economic issues. It forfeited the issue of security to the right.

Organized labor must advance a different practice around international solidarity that includes cross-border unity in struggle, but must also include support for sovereignty & democracy, which goes further. USLAW must take the lead in demanding a new practice of internationalism by organized labor. We must fight for an approach that rejects empire in favor of democracy and sovereignty.

(The complete text is available in full at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=7310)

Following a brief discussion, the assembly turned its attention to the primary task of the meeting - determining whether and on what basis USLAW would be able to continue the work it began at its founding meeting in 2003, and what plan of education, outreach, organization and action it would pursue to achieve its aim of ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq and immediate return of all US troops to their homes and families.

In order to answer those questions, Amy Newell, USLAW National Organizer, began the Assembly with a review of USLAW’s activities and accomplishments in the preceding year, which are reported in full at

http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=7311.

During the last year prior to the opening of the Assembly, USLAW grew as a coalition to nearly 100 affiliated organizations, including 3 national organizations, 11 regional organizations, 11 labor councils, 15 large local unions (with more than 10,000 members), 25 smaller local unions, 3 local allied labor groups, a dozen ad hoc labor antiwar committees, and a number of other non-union labor groups, like worker centers. Several organizations affiliated during the Assembly. (A complete list of affiliates is appended.) USLAW had total revenues of more than $107,000 and expenses of almost $99,000. The complete financial report can be found at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/AnnualFinancialReport11.29.pdf. This review was followed by brief reports on wide ranging local activities by USLAW affiliates around the country.

Nancy Romer, representing PSC-CUNY/AFT Local 2334, and Nancy Wohlforth, Secretary-Treasurer of OPEIU and President of Pride at Work, facilitated a discussion on what USLAW would need to continue in 2005. On behalf of the Steering Committee they proposed a budget for 2005 that more than doubles 2004 expenditures. A copy of the proposed budget can be found at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/BudgetProjection.2005.pdf.

Suggestions were made for methods by which affiliates could meet their affiliation fee and other financial commitments to USLAW. These may be found at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/IncomeProjections.2005.pdf.

A pledge form was distributed to all delegates and observers, seeking commitments for increasing revenue to USLAW in 2005. A copy of the pledge can be found at

http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/SupportPledge2.pdf

After a brief recess during which participants filled out their pledge forms, delegates and observers rose to publicly declare their commitments to increase support to USLAW in the coming year. First to take the microphone was Tom DeBruin, President of SEIU Local 1199 Pennsylvania. Brother DeBruin reviewed the efforts made by his local to support USLAW, including bringing the issue to the SEIU national organizing conference and national convention, where a strong antiwar resolution was adopted. He reported that more than a dozen SEIU local and regional organizations had voted to affiliate with USLAW. On behalf of the national union, he presented USLAW with a contribution of $50,000 and challenged others to seek substantial contributions from their national unions. Brooks Sunkett, Vice President of the Public and Health Care Division of Communications Workers of America, pledged to seek a substantial contribution from CWA.

Other delegates and observers then rose to announce their commitments, which totaled nearly $93,000 in pledged affiliation fees, over 800 new individual memberships, and in other financial commitments. Many also pledged to recruit new affiliations (89 in all) from their unions and labor councils. Several announced their intention to take the question to their national unions and state federations. A number will submit their pledges after consulting leadership bodies of their organizations. 30 people signed up as associate members at the Assembly, 21 of whom were new and 9 who renewed their membership.

Co-Convenor Gene Bruskin and Fred Mason, President of the Maryland and District of Colombia AFL-CIO, then facilitated a discussion on USLAW’s 2005 plan of work. A presentation was made on behalf of the Steering Committee, which was followed by questions and general discussion. These proposals and suggestions were referred to five working groups that convened in the afternoon to develop a series of specific proposals for action by the Assembly.

The general session recessed so that the various types of labor bodies that are affiliated with USLAW could meet to select their Steering Committee representatives for the coming year. All national organizations and local unions with more than 10,000 members are automatically entitled to a seat on the Steering Committee. The caucuses proposed Steering Committee members for small local unions, regional and state labor bodies, central labor councils, labor antiwar committees, local chapters of AFL-CIO allied constituency group organizations (CLUW, CBTU, LCLAA, APALA, etc.), and other non-union labor organizations (such as worker centers and immigrant rights organizations). [A list of those designated to the Steering Committee for 2005 follows at the end of this document.]

During the lunch break that followed, Clarence Thomas, National Coordinator of the Million Worker Movement, and Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson of Military Families Speak Out, addressed the Assembly.

The afternoon session began with meetings of the following working groups:

  • Working with Veterans & Military Families
  • Educational Tool Box: Developing Resource Materials
  • Stop the War Action Plan
  • Building International Labor Solidarity
  • Promoting and Influencing the AFL-CIO Debate on Foreign Policy

The Assembly was reconvened in plenary session to hear and act on reports from each of these working groups.

INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT, LEADERSHIP AND FUNDING OF USLAW

Nancy Wohlforth, Secretary-Treasurer of Office and Professional Employees International Union and President of Pride at Work, and Tom DeBruin, President of SEIU District 1199 Pennsylvania served as facilitators of the working group on Internal Development. The body approved a motion as amended in discussion to retain Gene Bruskin and Bob Muehlenkamp as Co-Convenors and to add three additional co-convenors, at least one of whom would be a woman and two a person of color in order to reflect the diversity of the U.S. working class. The motion authorized the Steering Committee to recommend a complete set of co-convenors for referendum vote of the affiliates. The floor was opened for other nominations and nominations will be solicited from affiliates. Nominees were solicited as well from the People of Color Caucus which met following the Assembly. The Steering Committee will ask each candidate to submit a statement and respond to some questions and then will send a ballot to affiliates with its recommendation for a final determination. The report of the working group was adopted.

CREATING THE TOOL BOX: EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE MEMBERS

Kathy Black, representing the SEUI Pennsylvania State Council, reported for the “Tool Box” working group. Bill Beeson, representing the Oregon Federation of Teachers, and Bill Onasch of Kansas City Labor Against the War, were designated to coordinate an Education Committee that will develop and assemble resource materials and fact sheets that can be used in member education and mobilization efforts. The group proposed that education on the war and occupation be integrated with steward training, workshops, and leadership development programs. The report of the working group was adopted.

WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES GROUPS

Mike Parker of Detroit Labor for Peace & Justice, and Nancy Lessin of Miltiary Families Speak Out, facilitated the working group on USLAW work with veterans and military families. Brother Parker reported that the group affirmed the importance of unions developing programs directed at their members and their families who are in or returning from military service, or have family members serving. This group discussed the impact of the existing economic draft and likely imposition of a formal draft on young people, especially unemployed youth. Rather than try to become a service organization itself, the group proposed that USLAW coordinate with a multitude of vet-related organizations to identify resources and provide that information on its website and in its materials. Locals ought to survey members to determine how they are most affected, either directly or indirectly through family members serving in the military. USLAW ought to encourage its affiliates to press employers to assure that members and their families’ rights, benefits and jobs are protected. USLAW should organize speaking opportunities before labor bodies of returning Iraq veterans and members of military families, and should work closely with Military Families Speak Out, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Vietnam Veterans Against the War and other similar organizations. The report of the working group was adopted.

BUILDING INTERNATIONAL LABOR SOLIDARITY AND TIES WITH THE LABOR MOVEMENT IN IRAQ

Laura Chenven, representing DC Labor for Peace & Justice, and Michael Zweig, representing United University Professions/AFT Local 2190 in NY, facilitated the working group on International Solidarity. The group recommended that USLAW maintain its policy of non-discrimination in its support for the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) and the Iraq Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). It recommended that another small delegation be sent Iraq as soon as safely possible to establish direct relationships with Iraqi unions, and to provide first-hand information on the situation confronting working people and the labor movement there. In light of the deteriorating security situation in Baghdad and other areas of the country, such a delegation should consider a visit to Basra, which appears to be less violent and risky. A budget for this delegation of $20,000 was projected, half of which would be contributed directly to Iraqi unions. These funds will be raised separately from USLAW’s organizational budget. The immediate prospects for a tour by Iraqi unionists in the U.S. are poor but USLAW should retain a perspective for organizing such a tour as soon as it is possible to do so. The report of the working group was adopted.

MOVING THE FOREIGN POLICY DEBATE WITHIN THE AFL-CIO

Bill Henning, President of CWA Local 1180 in NYC, and Fred Mason, President of the Maryland and District of Colombia AFL-CIO, served as facilitators for the working group on Moving the Foreign Policy Debate in the AFL-CIO. The group considered a statement of principles and proposals referred to it by the Steering Committee. Several minor changes were proposed and adopted. The document as revised is available at

http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/USLAW%20International%20Solidari…

A motion calling for USLAW to encourage all its affiliates to take a position that all levels of the AFL-CIO call for immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq; endorse and organize local, regional and national labor day(s) of action for this; and examine the AFL-CIO foreign policy in order to make it transparent and pro-worker failed. These actions, to the extent they are taken, will continue to be taken in the name of affiliates, not in the name of USLAW. A model resolution is appended and can be downloaded from

http://uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/Assembly%20sample%20CLC%20resolu…

The AFL-CIO has announced a process by which its affiliates, their members and all intermediate bodies can be involved in the discussion about the future of the labor movement and changes needed to enable the federation to reverse the decline in union members and density. USLAW affiliates are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to put forward the principles adopted by USLAW as the basis on which AFL-CIO foreign activities should be conducted. The report of the working group was adopted.

USLAW “STOP THE WAR” ACTION PLAN FOR 2005

The Action Plan working group was facilitated by Nancy Romer, representing Professional Staff Congress at CUNY/AFT Local 2334, and Andy Griggs, representing UTLA/AFT Local 1521. The group discussed the initiative under way in the Detroit City Council to conduct public hearings on the ways in which the Bush budget and militarization of the economy has affected city revenues and impacted education, health services and other social programs. Should this occur, it would be part of a larger effort to cut funding for the war and to raise the demand that U.S. troops be returned home. USLAW will distribute a sample letter of support that can be sent to the Detroit City Council (see attached letter). The group heard a report from Howard Wallace of Pride at Work about the successful campaign to pass Proposition N in San Francisco, which called for an immediate end to the occupation and return of the troops. It won by a 64% majority. USLAW affiliates were encouraged to pursue similar initiatives to those in Detroit and San Francisco. (See: http://yesonn.net/ and

http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=6993 )

The group reviewed a series of dates on which significant antiwar actions are planned, including the January 20 Counter- Inaugural in Washington, DC; Martin Luther King’s birthday holiday; March 19-20 anniversary of the war; April 15 (income tax day), and May Day. USLAW is a member organization of United for Peace & Justice, which is sponsoring activities on January 20 and March 20. The Steering Committee was charged with prioritizing USLAW commitments to sponsor, cosponsor and endorse these various events. A motion by Alan Benjamin of the SF Labor Council proposed was that USLAW cooperate with the Million Worker Movement and other antiwar organizations to advance USLAW’s Stop the War agenda on March 20 and May 1, as well as for other actions as determined and approved by the Steering Committee. The motion carried. The report of the working group was adopted.

STEERING COMMITTEE

The following organizations will designate representatives to serve on the new Steering Committee:

National Organizations:

  • United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America
  • Pride At Work
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women

Large Local Unions:

  • AFT Local 1021, Los Angeles
  • AFT Local 1521, United Teachers of Los Angeles
  • AFT Local 2190, United University Professions, NY
  • AFT Local 2334. Professional Staff Congress, NY
  • California Nurses’ Association
  • SEIU District 1199 New England Health Care Employees
  • SEIU District 1199 Pennsylvania
  • SEIU Local 1000, California
  • SEIU Local 1877, California
  • SEIU Local 1983, California Faculty Association
  • SEIU Local 250, Hospital and Health Care Workers, California
  • SEIU Local 615
  • SEIU Local 660, Los Angeles
  • SEIU Local 715, San Jose
  • SEIU Local 73, Chicago
  • SEIU Local 790, San Francisco
  • SEIU Local 790, San Francisco
  • Unite Here Local 5, Hawaii

Small Locals Unions:

  • ILWU10, San Franicsco
  • CWA Local 1180, New York City
  • AFT Local 212
  • BMWE/Teamsters Local 3014, New Jersey
  • National Writers’ Union/UAW Local 1981

Central Labor Councils:

  • Contra Costa County Central Labor Council
  • Washington DC Labor Council
  • Monterey Bay Labor Council
  • Philadelphia Central Labor Council
  • South Central Wisconsin Labor Council

State & Regional Bodies:

  • California Federation of Teachers
  • Maryland and District of Colombia AFL-CIO
  • SEIU Pennsylvania State Council

Ad Hoc Committees:

  • Chicago Labor for Peace Prosperity and Justice
  • NYC Labor Against the War
  • Detroit Labor for Peace and Justice

Local Chapters, Allied Labor Organizations:

  • Coalition of Labor Union Women, Philadelphia
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women, Chicago

Non-Union Labor Organizations:

  • Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Florida
  • Vermont Workers’ Center
  • Ohio Labor Party

U.S. Labor Against the War Affiliates (as of December 6, 2004)
http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=3606

  • AFSCME District Council 47, Philadelphia
    A
  • FSCME Local 171, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
  • AFSCME Local 1723, Temple University, Philadelphia
  • AFSCME Local 2858, Chicago (pending)
  • AFSCME Local 3558, Duluth, MN
  • AFSCME Retirees Chapter 36, Los Angeles
  • AFT California Federation of Teachers
  • AFT-Oregon State Federation of Teachers
  • AFT Wisconsin Federation of Teachers (pending)
  • AFT Local 61 United Educators of San Francisco AFT Local 212, Milwaukee, WI (pending)
  • AFT Local 1021 United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA)

The breakdown of Assembly participants (affiliates by type of organization)
Affiliate (paid) # orgs # people

  • Allied 2 2
  • CLC 6 9
  • Labor Antiwar 7 12
  • Large Local 14 29
  • National 3 4
  • Other Labor 3 3
  • Regional 7 7
  • Small Local 15 21
  • TOTALS 57 87
  • AFT Local 1078 Berkeley Federation of Teachers
  • AFT Local 1493 San Mateo County Community Colleges Faculty (pending)
  • AFT Local 1521A Los Angeles Area Community Colleges Clerical Workers
  • AFT Local 1521 Los Angeles Community Colleges
  • AFT Local 1936 Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers
  • AFT Local 2026, Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia
  • AFT Local 2121 San Francisco Community College Faculty
  • AFT Local 2190 United University Professions (UUP), Albany, NY
  • AFT Local 2334 Professional Staff Congress, CUNY
  • AFT Local 4999 Research, Statistics, and Analysis Employees of the State of Wisconsin
  • Alameda County Central Labor Council
  • Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
  • AFL-CIO (pending)
  • Black Workers for Justice, No. Carolina
  • Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, Lodge 3014, Levittown, PA
  • Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees, Lodge 3068, Westbury, NY
  • BMWE PA Federation
  • California Faculty Association, SEIU Local 1983
  • California Nurses Association
  • Chicago Labor Against War
  • Chicago Labor for Peace, Prosperity and Justice
  • Chicago Coalition of Labor Union Women
  • Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Florida
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women, Washington, DC
  • Coalition of Labor Union Women, Chicago Chapter
  • Contra Costa County Central Labor Council
  • CWA Local 1180, NYC
  • CWA Local 9415, Oakland (pending)
  • CWA Local 9423, San Jose
  • DC Labor Committee for Peace and Justice
  • Detroit Labor Committee for Peace and Justice
  • Garment Workers Center, Los Angeles
  • Graphic Arts International Union, Local 4N, San Francisco
  • Hawaii Labor for Peace & Justice
  • HERE-UNITE Local 5, Hawaii
  • HERE-UNITE Local 483, Monterey, CA
  • Intl. Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 169, Oakland, CA
  • International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 10, San Francisco
  • Kansas City Labor Against War
  • Labor Committee For Peace and Justice, SF Bay Area
  • Los Angeles Federation of Labor
  • Maryland and District of Colombia AFL-CIO
  • Massachusetts Labor for Peace & Justice
  • Metropolitan Washington DC Labor Council
  • Monterey Bay Central Labor Council
  • National Association of Legal Service Workers/UAW Local 2320 (pending)
  • National Writers’ Union, UAW Local 1981
  • National Writers’ Union, UAW Local 1981/Unit 16, Arizona & New Mexico
  • New Jersey Labor Against the War
  • New Jersey State Industrial Union Council
  • New York City Labor Against the War
  • North Carolina Labor Against the War
  • Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 3, SF Bay Area
  • Ohio State Labor Party
  • Philadelphia Central Labor Council
  • Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women
  • Pride at Work, AFL-CIO, Washington, DC
  • Roosevelt Adjunct Faculty Association, Chicago
  • San Francisco Labor Council
  • SEIU Illinois State Council
  • SEIU Pennsylvania State Council
  • SEIU Local 73, Illinois Public Employees
  • SEIU Districtl 1199 New England Health Care Employees Union
  • SEIU District 1199 New York
  • SEIU District 1199P, Pennsylvania
  • SEIU Local 250, California
  • SEIU Local 415, Monterey Bay, CA
  • SEIU Local 535, California (pending)
  • SEIU Local 615, Boston
  • SEIU Local 660, Los Angeles
  • SEIU Local 715, Oakland
  • SEIU Local 790, SF Bay Area, Central Valley
  • SEIU Local 1000/CSEA, California
  • SEIU Local 1877, California
  • SEIU Local 1983, (see CA Faculty Association, above)
  • SEIU 1991, Florida
  • SEIU Local 2020, Massachusetts
  • SEIU Local 2828
  • South Bay Central Labor Council, San Jose
  • South Bay Labor for Peace & Justice, San Jose
  • South Central Federation of Labor, Madison, Wisconsin
  • St. Louis Labor Against the War
  • Teamsters Local 556, Walla Walla, WA
  • UAW Local 1981,(see National Writers’ Union above)
  • UAW Local 2320, (see National Association of Legal Services Workers above)
  • UAW Local 2322, Northampton, MA
  • UE United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America
  • UE District Council 2, New England
  • UE District Council 11, Chicago
  • UE Local 896 - COGS, Iowa
  • Union of Professional Employees, Univ. of Illinois at Champain-Urbana
  • United Health Care Workers of Greater St. Louis
  • Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
  • Vermont Workers Center
  • Washington-Orange Vermont Central Labor Council
  • Western Connecticut Central Labor Council
  • Wisconsin Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO (pending)

SAMPLE LETTER TO DETROIT CITY COUNCIL

Maryann Mahaffey, President
Detroit City Council
13th Floor, Coleman Young Memorial Center
Detroit, MI 48226

Dear President Mahaffey:

U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW), a coalition of more than 100 labor organizations opposed to the war and occupation in Iraq, at its National Leadership Assembly in Chicago, December 4, 2004, voted to support and encourage any effort the Council may initiate to build a movement that can reverse Federal Budget priorities which currently feed the Pentagon while starving the cities and social programs that serve human needs.

We have witnessed the social safety net and other vital social programs being deprived of needed resources or cut entirely while the Defense Department budget has ballooned, becoming a giant subsidy program for arms manufacturers and multinational corporations.

As an affiliate of USLAW, ___(name of organization)___ adds its support for any such initiative.

Yours very truly,

Model Resolution: ENDING THE WAR AND PROTECTING OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS

WHEREAS the Bush Administration carried out an invasion of Iraq using the pretense that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, and

therefore posed an immediate threat to the security of the United States. But no evidence has been found that Iraq possessed these weapons or the capability to deploy them, and

WHEREAS the administration has embraced a new and dangerous path of preemptive war without an imminent threat to the United States that has made us less, not more secure, that has increased the threat of terrorism, and that has put Iraq on a path towards civil war instead of towards a democratic society, and

WHEREAS the war and military occupation of Iraq have cost the lives of over 1200 U.S. troops, the wounding and disabling of thousands more, and deaths by some estimates of over 100,000 Iraqi civilians, casualties among soldiers of other nations, and the devastation of the entire country, and

WHEREAS we recognize the courage of U.S. military personnel, many of whom are members or family of members of our unions. They have faced extraordinary danger and made huge sacrifices in this war; they now want to come home; and bringing them home is the best means of protecting them, and

WHEREAS the Bush Administration has used the Iraq war and national security hysteria as a pretext to create a climate of fear at home, to restrict civil liberties and to attack the rights of workers and unions, and

WHEREAS, the war and occupation have cost over two hundred billion dollars, leading directly to cuts in social and human services, education and even benefits for the very veterans of this and other conflicts. Meanwhile war spending has lined the pockets of immensely wealthy anti-labor corporations, and

WHEREAS the Bush administration has announced the wholesale privatization of Iraqi factories and workplaces and kept in force a ban on unions in the public sector to benefit corporate investors at the expense of Iraqi people, and

WHEREAS the Bush administration has divided us here at home while inspiring fear and distrust among other nations of the world community, and has sacrificed the good will and friendship our country enjoyed in the days and months after September 11, and

WHEREAS five national unions (SEIU, AFSCME, CWA, APWU, GCIU), and numerous state labor federations, central labor councils, local unions and other labor bodies, representing millions of union members, have passed resolutions calling for our troops to be brought home, and

WHEREAS AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has asked the labor movement at every level to discuss important issues, challenges and problems we confront in preparation for the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in March, and the national convention in July, and given that the issues of war and peace, and the destruction of the social safety net, are among the most important of challenges we confront,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that _________ (union, labor council or other labor body) calls on President Bush to bring our troops home from Iraq now, and to reject the philosophy of pre-emptive war without a clear imminent threat to the United States, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT_________ (union, labor council or other labor body) calls on President Bush to provide adequate veterans’ benefits and otherwise meet the needs of returning veterans, and our people in general to jobs, education and healthcare, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT_________ (union, labor council or other labor body) will assist union members and their families who are called upon to serve in Iraq and returning veterans by identifying and providing information about resources and services available to meet their needs, by advocating for their interests, and by protecting their jobs, seniority and benefits, and calls upon other unions, labor councils and state labor federations to organize this kind of support at the local level, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT _________ (union, labor council or other labor body) calls on the National AFL-CIO to demand an immediate end to the US occupation of Iraq, the return of U.S. troops to their homes and families, and the reordering of national priorities toward peace and the human needs of our people, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT _________ (union, labor council or other labor body) shall make this resolution available to its members and communicate it to its national organization, labor councils and state federation with which it is affiliated with a request that it be adopted and forwarded to the AFL-CIO for adoption.

Distributed by U.S. Labor Against the War, 1718 M Street, NW #153, Washington, DC 20036

www.uslaboragainstwar.org -

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