The Iraq War Dispute

    Once today passes, some of the attention to the internal political fight will abate--though not entirely disappear (more on that later)--and delegates will be able to focus on other issues. One that is of particular concern is what the Federation's position will be on the war in Iraq.

     As I reported last week, there has been intense debate about the war in the labor movement. The resolution reported out of the Resolutions Committee does not call for the immediate withdrawal of the troops.

    But, the anti-war delegates are organizing. Yesterday, they held a meeting at the Sheraton to discuss what to do. As I understand it, they are hoping to try to amend the Executive Council's resolution on the floor of the convention when it comes to the floor on Thursday (it's scheduled for the last day of the convention).

    I spoke to the co-coordinator of U.S Labor Against the War (USLAW) Gene Bruskin yesterday and he seemed a bit annoyed that, according to him, delegates have been told that the text of the Executive Council resolution has been blessed by USLAW. Not true he said.

    It's hard to see how the proposed amendment (I don't know if there is exact language for it) will pass on the floor of the convention. But, it could provide for an interesting debate about labor's position on U.S. foreign policy. By the way, you can go to the AFL-CIO website to see the different resolutions submitted about the war.

Comments

[jesse]

There was also a anti-war rally on Navy Pier at 4 p.m. yesterday - overshadowed by the Change to Win press conference at 4:30 p.m.

[Tasini]

Yes, Jesse, you're right--I wanted to be there but, sigh, i'm still working on the beta version of being in two places at once.

[Gail]

Thanks, Jonathan, for your tremendous efforts to keep all informed of a dizzying series of events. At the local level, I think we are all trying to figure out "what next" after we have worked so hard to develop a sense of labor movement solidarity and collaboration in the face of extraordinary threats and challenges to workers -- both the organized and unorganized. One tragedy here is that the forces lined up against us are absolutely licking their chops after this very public and bitter "separation and/or divorce."

However, the ultimate irony and tragedy for the week would be for Dubya and cronies, with support from spineless Democrats, to deliver the crowning bit of "gotcha" -- the passage of CAFTA.

Our enemies and battles are NOT in Chicago hotels. When and how are we going to get back to work?

[Jesse]

Jonathan, let me know when you figure out how to do that. I also had the same problem. It would be interesting to find out if Change to Win has a position on the war - although I'm sure they are a little occupied with other things right now.

[belleunion]

I wonder what the CTW decision to boycott the convention will do to the efforts to pass this resolution? I know that there are some other internationals unions who were behind it, but aren't most of the supporters of USLAW in Change to Win?

[Bill Baar]

A little Solidarity with Iraqi Trade Unions would be nice. Here's an obit on the murder of Hadi Saleh http://www.iraqitradeunions.org/archives/cat_hadi.html

[Josh H. Pille]

I just heard that the resolution was amended on the floor and made stronger, calling for the troops to return home. And that the amended resolution then passed. Is this true?