Open World Conference
of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
International Liaison Committee
Campaign In Defense of Working Women's Rights
Western Hemisphere Workers Conference
What's New
This coming October 24-25, U.S. Labor Against the War, or USLAW, will be convening a National Labor Assembly for Peace in Chicago with the purpose of establishing an ongoing labor coalition in the United States against war. The task at hand is to found a new and ongoing national organization of labor against the "endless war" sought by Bush and the warmakers in Washington. We call upon all trade unionists and labor activists all across the country to actively build this National Assembly through your unions and antiwar coalitions.
Campaign for Labor Rights in Iraq
A bold international campaign has been launched at the initiative of U.S. Labor Against War, the ILC, and leading unionists representing trade unions and federations from more than 40 countries. It is a Campaign for Labor Rights in Iraq -- for the new administration in Iraq to abide by the 57 ILO Conventions ratified by previous Iraqi governments so that the Iraqi workers can build independent unions of their choice to defend their interests against the predatory U.S. corporations that have been awarded contracts to plunder the resources of the Iraqi nation and to super-exploit their workers.
Stop Police Repression - Defend ILWU Rep Jack Heyman
The New York Times called it the most violent suppression of antiwar dissent during the Iraq war. When police opened fire on a peaceful anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland on April 7, many demonstrators and nine longshore workers were injured. Thirty demonstrators and a longshore union official were arrested in the unprovoked police attack. In a chilling measure that threatens both organized labor and civil liberties, the government has moved file charges against ILWU Local 10 business agent, Jack Heyman, and against 25 of the arrested protesters in the April 7th antiwar demonstration in the port of Oakland.
Continental Conference Against FTAA
The OWC Continuations Committee received a call from leading trade unionists in Brazil to convene a Western Hemisphere Workers Conference Against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The conference will take place on December 11, 2003 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. At the same time, the national AFL-CIO has just launched a nationwide campaign to STOP the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Part of this campaign includes the launch of a postcard ballot in which working people can register their VOTE NO on the FTAA. The cards will be delivered to the 34 trade ministers who will be meeting in Miami on Nov. 20-21, 2003.
The Workers Party and the CUT in Brazil
Public-sector workers in Brazil waged a national strike against the government's proposed measure to reform the Pension System (Proposed Constitutional Amendment #40, or PEC 40). This proposal was submitted to the National Congress by the Lula government and by the State governors. The month before, tens of thousands of workers from across Brazil participated in the March on Brasilia, a national protest against the government's proposed pension reform.
Berlin Conference Book Now Available! - The fully translated, 146 page book resulting from the Berlin Conference Against Deregulation and Privatization and For Labor Rights, with contributions and speeches from delegates from the participating trade union and political organizations from the 51 countries represented. The book is formatted in PDF and is available free.
The International Liaison Committee
(ILC) was set up in Barcelona (Spain) in January 1991 at the First Open
World Conference by delegates from 63 countries. Find out more about the
important work of the ILC and access its ILC weekly International
Newsletter with current information about working class and union
struggles around the world. This information is also available in Spanish.