4/21Forum On The Middle East,Palestinian Workers, War & the AFL-CIO

Bay Area Workers Democracy Forum/Discussion
The Middle East, Palestinian Workers,
War & The AFL-CIO

Speakers:
Mary Ann Ring, UCSF ASCME 3299, Delegate SF Labor Council
Charles Minster, National Parks & Public Employees, LIUNA 1141, Delegate
SF Labor Council
Jack Heyman, BA ILWU Local 10 *Delegate Alameda Labor Council (Invited)
Faisal Tbeilen, Member UESF-AFT*

As a result of the attack on Palestinian trade union offices and the US military supported assault on the people of Palestine, the San Francisco Labor Council has passed a resolution protesting the illegal, immoral war and supporting an end to the military arming of Israel by the United States. This is the first action of any labor federation in the US to challenge the US military arming of Israel. Unfortunately as a result of pressure by the supporters of Israel the SF Labor Council has voted to rescind their historic statement but a public forum and public debate will now take place.

This important statement however, is virtually alone among the US trade union movement. John Sweeney and the national AFL-CIO have embraced Bush's "War On Terror", as well as supporting the Patriot Act which harms our democratic and human rights. The AFL-CIO is also supporting the massive increases of military spending that will be paid for with major cutbacks in healthcare, social services and education. At the same time, the leadership of the Teamsters and the Carpenters are running as fast as they can to get on Bush's Republican bandwagon.

We will discuss why it is important that US workers support the struggle of Palestinian workers and the historic role of the AFL-CIO in relationship to the wars in the Middle East and the rights of workers in the Middle East.

$5.00 Donation Requested/ No one turned away from a lack of funds
*For Information Only
Sunday April 21, 2002 3:00PM
Fellowship Of Humanity Hall
390 27th St./Broadway Oakland

Sponsored by the Bay Area Workers Democracy Network (BAWDN)
P.O.Box 40458 San Francisco, CA 94140
Email:united [at] labornet.org/sfactive [at] earthlink.net

San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO
1188 Franklin St. Suite 203
San Francisco, California 94109-6852
(415)440-4809
Email: sflaborcouncil [at] worldnet.att.net


The San Francisco Labor Council Passed The Following Resolution. It was rescinded on April 8, 2002 after pressure from the officials of SEIU 790 and SEIU 250 as well as the Building Trades.

11 March 2002

Resolution on Mid-East Conflict

Whereas, the conflict in Israel and Palestine continues on an insane course destroying

lives, property and the future with no end in sight; and

Whereas, the reasons for the continuation of this catastrophe rests in the struggle for control at the expense of the working class and dispossessed; and

Whereas, the U.S. proves to be the main culprit in this struggle by supplying the Israeli State billions of dollars in arms to suppress the Palestinian struggle for both Statehood and ancestral lands while oppressing and dividing the Jewish and Arab worker for the benefit of national and international capital; and

Whereas, the recent escalation of the conflict has seen scores of women, children and other innocents murdered and the 17 February bombing of the headquarters of the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) by U.S. supplied and paid for Israeli F-16 jets that continue to bomb civilian and Palestinian political targets, against
U.S. legal restrictions; and

Whereas, these actions by the Israeli military and government have been condemned by such labor groups as the International Confederation of Trade Unions (ICFTU), the
International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Worker's Union
(ICEM), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

Therefore be it hereby Resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council condemns the bombing of civilian and political targets most specifically, but not limited to, the Palestinian trade union offices in Nablus, Palestine and remind the U.S.. Government that this is both a moral and legal crime, and

Be it further Resolved, that this Council calls on the ranks of the PGFTU of Palestine and the Histadrut trade union federation of Israel to launch joint action against both
sides' attacks on innocents and civilians and work together to gain control over this
horrible situation; and

Be it finally Resolved, that this Resolution be submitted to all of our affiliated bodies State, Nationally and Internationally for study and concurrence so that labor may act
jointly in its own defense.


Adopted by the San Francisco Labor Council on March 11, 2001.

Respectfully Submitted ,

Walter Johnson
Secretary-Treasurer
San Francisco Labor Council