Washington State AFL-CIO adopts resolution against war on Iraq
The Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO) adopted the first statewide union resolution condemning the Bush administration's war drive at its statewide convention Aug. 19-22, 2002, in Spokane.
The "Resolution Against the War, Attacks on Civil Liberties and Cuts in Public Services" says in part: "President Bush's ever-expanding 'war on terrorism' has been cynically used to justify a $48 billion hike in next year's military budget, bringing it to $383 billion, in addition to the $15 billion bailout of the airline industry and $25 billion in tax refunds for corporate America...
"Congress is forcing union members and other working and poor people to pay for this war drive and subsidize corporate profits by raiding the Social Security Trust Fund and cutting funding for economically distressed states and vital government programs such as subsidies for low income housing and services to the homeless...
"The national AFL-CIO's uncritical support for this profit-driven war has derailed labor opposition to increased military expenditures, corporate subsidies and government spying and provided political cover for Democrats to jump on the anti-terrorism bandwagon...
"Therefore, be it resolved that the Washington State Labor Council expand its efforts to defend civil liberties by taking the following actions and urging the AFL-CIO to do the same:
"Campaign for the repeal of the USA Patriot Act and defeat of similar 'anti-terrorism' measures in state legislatures;
"Pressure local and state law enforcement to refuse to cooperate with FBI spying on political, union, and anti-globalism activists or comply with INS harassment of Arabs and other immigrants and people of color in the U.S.;
"Demand the immediate release of the hundreds of Middle Eastern, Arab and other immigrants who are still being detained without due process and/or legal justification;
"And be it finally resolved that the Washington State Labor Council urge the AFL-CIO and its affiliates to oppose the U.S. government's open-ended 'war on terrorism' and participate in rallies, marches and other activities to pressure President Bush and Congress to stop the war and redirect money from corporate handouts and the military budget to assist laid-off workers, restore and expand public services, and promote global justice by providing humanitarian and economic aid--administered by unions--to our brothers and sisters in other countries."
Posted September 24, 2002
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