[Peace] Chicago Federation of Labor and the war issue

[Peter Miller]

Hi, everyone-

The CFL is generally regarded as a conservative group, so to have this 
discussion is unusual.  (The CFL President, Dennis Gannon is a former 
business agent from the Operating Engineers, the union that represents 
people who operate cranes, bulldozers, etc.)  They didn't pass a 
resolution, yet--but it sounds like they could be leaning that way.

Here's a key to the letters you'll see:
AFSCME: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
Teamsters: The union that mainly represents truck drivers
IAM: International Association of Machinists (mainly for people who machine 
metal, like lathe operators, milling machine operators, etc.)
IATSE: International Association of Theatre and Stage Employees
UNITE!: Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees.

More alphabet soup is in the letter to the CFL; if people have questions, 
please feel free to contact me.

-Peter

>From: "Wayne Heimbach" <wheimbach at igc.org>
>Subject:  CFL and the war issue
>Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2003 23:35:24 -0600
>
>Attached is a report on Tuesday's CFL discussion on the war.  I hope you 
>can make Saturday's meeting of Chicago Labor Against the War.
>
>Wayne Heimbach



********
Next Chicago Labor Against War Meeting:
Sat. Feb. 8, 12:30pm, UNITE
Ashland and Van Buren
*********

**Report on Feb. 4 Chicago Federation of Labor discussion of the war**

Several members of Chicago Labor Against War passed out a letter introducing
our group to delegates of the Chicago Federation of Labor at its monthly
meeting (see below).
The letter included the U.S. Labor Against War founding statement, and asked
delegates to discuss USLAW during the "good and welfare" portion of the CFL
meeting as well as in their respective unions.

Earlier that day, CFL President Dennis Gannon had spoken with Steve Edwards,
president of AFSCME Local 2858, and invited Steve to present the statement.
Gerry Zero, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 705, also spoke with
Steve and said that Local 705's delegates would speak in support. A number
of other delegates had agreed to do likewise.

At the appropriate point on the agenda, Steve came to the microphone and
spoke eloquently that a U.S. invasion of Iraq would be a rich man's war and
poor man's fight. Next, Mark Postillion, recording secretary and business
agent for Teamsters Local 705, reported that the local passed an antiwar
resolution in October and went on to attack the false patriotism, and
warmongers and oil profiteers that this war will be fought for. Bill Davis,
chief shop steward in IAM Local 701 at UPS and a former national coordinator
of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, spoke as both a trade unionist and a
veteran about the unresolved issues of the Vietnam era, including homeless
veterans. Elena Marcheschi, a delegate from IATSE, spoke about the antiwar
resolution recently passed by the Chicago City Council and read excerpts
from testimony at the meeting, including that from WWII veteran wounded in
battle and Mayor Richard Daley.

You could look around the room and see people who were quite moved by the
speakers. When each person finished, a large majority applauded. No one
spoke in favor of the war, or against the USLAW statement.

Brother Gannon then said, in a friendly manner, that procedure required that
the CFL executive board endorse and pass any resolution before it is
presented to the body. The implication was that the member unions should
consider the USLAW resolution and then motivate it for consideration by the
CFL at the next meeting. At a different point in the agenda, a woman
representing the Coalition of Labor Union Women announced that her chapter
was organizing for February 15 demonstration.

Overall, the CFL meeting provided excellent opportunity to spread the word
about both USLAW and Chicago Labor Against War. The letter advertised our
next meeting as well as our activities for the February 15 antiwar protests.

We hope that as many labor activists as possible can attend the next Chicago
Labor Against War meeting, Sat., Feb. 8, 12:30 pm, UNITE, Ashland & Van
Buren.

In solidarity,
Joe Allen
Shop steward,
Teamsters Local 705

*       *       *       *       *       *       *
A letter to delegates to the
Chicago Federation of Labor
from Chicago Labor Against War

February 4, 2003

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We are here to represent a newly formed organization, Chicago Labor Against
War, in support of U.S. Labor Against War, a national organization founded
in a conference at the Teamsters Local 705 auditorium on January 11. We are
writing to help introduce the U.S. Labor Against the War founding statement
for discussion at tonight's CFL meeting and in our respective unions.

Chicago Labor Against War began as an informal grouping of labor activists
who met in December to organize a meeting, "Labor Voices and Veterans Speak
Out on War," held January 10, also at the 705 auditorium. Featured speakers
included Dan Lane, the former UPIU activist and "road warrior" against the
lockout by A.E. Staley; Bill Davis, an IAM Local 701 chief steward at UPS in
Chicago and former national coordinator of Vietnam Veterans Against the War;
Loretta Byrd, recording secretary, Teamsters Local 738, Chicago; and Brenda
Stokely, president, AFSCME District Council 1707 in New York City.

At a subsequent meeting at the UNITE hall on January 25, members of a number
of unions, including UNITE, USWA, Teamsters, AFSCME, IBEW, the Chicago
Teachers Union and others, formally launched Chicago Labor Against War.

We believe that the U.S. Labor Against War statement, as a product of debate
and discussion of trade unionists across the U.S., reflects the widespread
and growing opposition to the U.S. government's war preparations against
Iraq. It is printed on the reverse side of this letter.

We stand on the brink of a war that, if joined, will have incalculable
consequences for us, our children and our children's children. We hope that
you will join in a discussion of the U.S. Labor Against the War statement
and take it back to your respective unions for consideration.

Currently, Chicago Labor Against War is organizing for the International Day
of Action against the war on Saturday, February 15. We have endorsed a local
demonstration for immigrant rights at 12 noon, 2200 W. Devon, in the heart
of the Pakistani community. We have also endorsed, and plan to send a
delegation to, the national day of protest called by United for Peace and
Justice in New York City, also on February 15.

The next meeting of Chicago Labor Against War is Saturday, February 8, at
12:30 pm at the UNITE hall, Ashland Ave. at Van Buren, Chicago. For more
information, please contact us at 312-264-2551 (voice or fax) or by e-mail
at chi_labor_antiwar at yahoo.com.

In solidarity,
Chicago Labor Against War
[See reverse side for U.S. Labor Against the War founding statement]

USLAW Founding Statement:

WE ESTABLISH U.S. LABOR AGAINST THE WAR

Whereas, over 100 trade unionists from 76 local, regional and national
unions, central labor councils and other labor organizations representing
over 2 million members, gathered in Chicago for an unprecedented meeting to
discuss our concerns about the Bush administration's threat of war; and

Whereas, union members and leaders have the responsibility to inform all
working people about issues that affect their lives, jobs and families, and
to be heard in the national debate on these issues; and

Whereas, the principal victims of any military action in Iraq will be the
sons and daughters of working class families serving in the military who
will be put in harm's way, and innocent Iraqi civilians who have already
suffered so much; and

Whereas, we have no quarrel with the ordinary working class men, women and
children of Iraq, or any other country; and

Whereas, the billions of dollars spent to stage and execute this war are
being taken away from our schools, hospitals, housing and Social Security;
and

Whereas, the war is a pretext for attacks on labor, civil, immigrant and
human rights at home; and

Whereas, Bush's drive for war serves as a cover and distraction for the
sinking economy, corporate corruption and layoffs; and

Whereas, such military action is predicted actually to increase the
likelihood of retaliatory terrorist acts; and

Whereas, there is no convincing link between Iraq and Al Quad or the attacks
on Sept. 11, and neither the Bush administration nor the UN inspections have
demonstrated that Iraq poses a real threat to Americans; and

Whereas, U.S. military action against Iraq threatens the peaceful resolution
of disputes among states, jeopardizing the safety and security of the entire
world, including Americans; and

Whereas, labor has had an historic role in fighting for justice; therefore

We hereby establish the U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW); and

Resolve that U.S. Labor Against the War stands firmly against Bush's war
drive; and

Further resolve that U.S. Labor Against the War will publicize this
statement, and promote union, labor and community antiwar activity.

For more information on USLAW, contact: Bob Muehlenkamp,
Kabob240 at aol.com, 301-346-3665 , or
Gene Bruskin,
G8751 at erols.com, 202-833-8525


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