AFL-CIO Takes Historic Stand Against Iraq War
an article by David Adams

For the first time in its 50 year history the AFL-CIO national labor coalition has taken a position squarely in opposition to a major U.S. foreign policy or military action. At its national convention in Chicago on July 26, the Federation adopted a resolution calling for a "rapid" return of all U.S. troops from Iraq.

Eighteen AFL-CIO state federations, central labor councils and unions had submitted resolutions to the convention calling for an immediate or rapid end to the occupation and return of the troops.

Rising to speak in favor of the resolution, Henry Nicholas, President of District 1199 of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) of Pennsylvania, told the delegates that his son had been deployed to Iraq four times and was about to be sent again. He said, "In my forty-five years in the labor movement, this is my proudest moment in being a union member, because it is the first time we had the courage to say 'enough is enough.'"

The convention action comes on the heels of a 26-city U.S. tour by six Iraqi trade union leaders from three of Iraq's major labor federations organized by U.S. Labor Against the War in mid-June. The Iraqi union leaders were unanimous in their call for an immediate end to the U.S. occupation, describing it as a source of instability, violence and terrorism in Iraq.

The resolution accuses the Bush administration of misinforming the American people about the reasons for going to war and about the reality on the ground since it launched the invasion. The resolution also heralds the courage demonstrated by Iraqi workers and unions. It pledges continuing solidarity in concert with the international trade union movement with the workers of Iraq "... as they lead the struggle for an end to the violence and a more just and democratic nation."

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What is the role of organized labor in the peace movement?


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MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PEACE MOVEMENT

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The labor movement has an important role to play in the peace movement. Rediscovering solidarity is the Peace Key most closely related to orgnized labor. The actions of SEBAC in trying to produce a Fair Budget for the state of CT are illustrative of their work. Unions such as 1199 who work for employees of the nursing home industry also work for women's equality, and respect for all life. The courageous actions of those who were on strike against the arrogance of the management of Avery Heights in Hartford last year are another example of how unions strengthen the culture of peace.

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