Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
New Date for Western Hemisphere Conference Against FTAA
To: The U.S. and Brazilian Endorsers of the Hemisphere Workers'
Conference Against the FTAA
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
We are writing this letter to notify you that because of delays in
preparing the Hemisphere Workers' Conference Against the FTAA, we have
been compelled to move the conference date to December 12-13, 2003. The
conference will still take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but not on the
initially targeted date of late July 2003.
The delays are primarily due to two factors. First and most important, for
the past five months the attention of the fighting trade unions and
activists, particularly in the United States, has been focused almost
entirely on trying to stop the shameful U.S.-led war on the people of
Iraq. The issue of the FTAA was therefore placed on a back-burner, at
least for a while.
In addition, the situation of the trade union movement in Brazil during
the first four months of the Lula government has centered around the
preparation for the upcoming national convention of the Unified Workers
Confederation (CUT) and the need for the unions to define a coherent
stance in relation to the new PT government. This convention will be held
in mid-June.
The issue of the FTAA is, of course, at the center of all the political
processes at play across the Americas. More than ever, the sovereignty of
all nations on the continent is in imminent danger.
This is why we appeal to you for your understanding about this change of
dates, but more important, for your support to this effort to build a
powerful hemispheric movement of unions and their allies that can put a
halt to FTAA and its planned destruction of the nations and peoples of the
Americas. We need your backing to ensure the broadest and largest possible
delegations to this conference from all across the Americas.
We look forward to hearing your comments and proposals for this
conference.
In solidarity,
Julio Turra, for the Brazilian Preparatory Committee
Alan Benjamin and Ed Rosario, for the Continuations
Committee of the Open World Conference