VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST STRIKE AGAINST WAR ON MAY 1st

VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST STRIKE AGAINST WAR ON MAY 1st

 

by Vermont AFL-CIO (16 April 2008)   http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display/204313/index.php#

 

 The Executive Board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, representing thousands of  workers in countless sectors across Vermont, have unanimously passed an

historic resolution expressing their "unequivocal" support for the first  US labor strike against the war in Iraq. Montpelier, VT .The Executive

Board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, representing thousands of workers in countless sectors across Vermont, have unanimously passed an historic

resolution expressing their "unequivocal" support for the first US labor strike against the war in Iraq. The strike, being organized by the

Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/03/01/18482849.php

will seek to shutdown all west coast ports for a period of 8 hours on the day of May 1st 2008. The Vermont AFL-CIO is the first state labor federation to

publicly back the Longshoremen; other state federations are expected to follow. The resolution, among other things, calls the war in Iraq "immoral, unwanted,

and unnecessary", states that the vast majority of working Vermonters oppose the war, and contends that the war will only be brought to an end by "the direct actions of working people." Many other Vermont labor unions and organizations, including the Vermont Workers' Center, have also made official

statements condemning the war. The resolution also calls on working Vermonters to "discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear anti-war

buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and choosing in their workplace on May 1st, 2008." "Workers in Vermont and all across

this nation are against this war. We have already demanded that the government end it, but they have consistently failed to heed our words.

Therefore working people are beginning to take concrete steps to make our resistance known. If the war does not immediately end, we, the unions

and working people of Vermont, will also be compelled to take appropriate action," said David Van Deusen, a District Vice President of

the Vermont AFL-CIO.

 

Traven Leyshon, President of the Washington, Lamoille & Orange County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, said, "Vermont labor has long called for

an end to this war. The untold billions being spent on the war could instead be used to address our domestic needs. It is working people who

pay the cost of the war - in some cases with our lives, but always with our sacrifices."

 

***

 

Vermont AFL-CIO Resolution In Solidarity With Longshoremen's West Coast Strike Against War

April, 2008

 

Whereas the war in Iraq is immoral, unwanted, and unnecessary,

 

Whereas this unjust war is opposed by the great majority of Americans &

Vermonters, the bulk of organized labor, and by thousands of enlisted

military personal,

 

Whereas this unjust war has already resulted in over 4000 American dead

(including a disproportionate number of brave Vermonters), and tens of

thousands of service men & woman being wounded,

 

Whereas this unjust war has further resulted in untold number of Iraqi

deaths,

 

Whereas the Federal Government has not made any constructive moves

towards the ending of this war and the full removal of US troops, and

instead has taken the course of escalation and indefinite occupation,

 

Whereas the government of Vermont, and especially Governor Jim Douglas,

have failed to find ways to bring Vermont National Guard troops home

from Iraq,

 

Whereas this war will only be brought to an end by the direct actions of

working people,

 

Therefore, Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO continues to

stand in firm opposition to this war, and unequivocally supports the

decision of the Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore &

Warehouse Union (ILWU) to shutdown the west coast ports for a period of

8 hours on May 1st, 2008, as a means of resistance.

 

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO stands in full solidarity

with the New York Metro National Association of Letter Carriers who have

resolved to conduct two minute periods of silence on May 1st, 2008, at

1PM, 5PM & 9PM in protest of the war and in support of the Longshoremen.

 

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO encourages all Vermont

workers to stand in solidarity with the historic actions being taken by

the Longshoremen & other labor unions to end this war.

 

Let It Be Further Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO calls for all

Vermont workers to discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear

anti-war buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and

choosing in their workplace on May 1st, 2008 as a means of resistance

against this unjust war.

 

*****************************

Sent to WNPJ by Art Heitzer -

aheitzer@igc.org

 

****************************************

Judy Miner, Office Coordinator

Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice

122 State St. #402

Madison, WI 53703

608.250.9240

info@wnpj.org

www.wnpj.org