Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
Statement from the Detroit Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
Reprinted from the Detroit Labor News (local AFL-CIO publication),
August 2002.
We are labor union members, officers, stewards and/or retirees. We are
opposed to the aggressive military policy our government is waging in
response to September 11.
We condemn the horrific terrorist attack on September 11. Yet, the war in
Afghanistan has brought further suffering to already impoverished innocent
civilians. We therefore oppose the expansion of the War on Terror to
include military action in Iraq, the Philippines or any other country. We
oppose our government’s military, economic and political role in
supporting Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian people.
We also do not wish any harm to come to American troops, the majority of
whom are workers. The interests of working people are not served by war.
The current foreign policy of our government has more to do with expanding
US military presence and protecting corporate interests. And the current
domestic policy sweeps the urgent needs of working and poor people under
the rug, while enriching defense contractors and big business generally.
For this reason we oppose draining essential public programs as education,
health care and the social security trust for a massive giveaway of tax
dollars to wealthy corporations under the guise of national security and
economic stimulus. Stimulating the economy and combating unemployment must
happen through a program of public works, including the construction of
schools, hospitals and a national rail system. The problems of poverty,
unemployment, and social injustice in cities like Detroit must be
addressed in any economic stimulus program.
We oppose the Patriot Act which is curtailing our civil liberties. We also
oppose the disgraceful roundup and imprisonment of Arab Americans in
Michigan and throughout the country.
We demand that all workers be allowed to join a union. We will support
solidarity amongst all workers in the US (including illegal immigrants
working to make a living) and workers in other countries.
We believe in peace and social justice.
Therefore, the undersigned workers commit to:
· OPPOSING THE WAR. Instead, we call for global social and economic
justice.
· OPPOSING ECONOMIC AID FOR THE CORPORATIONS. The government must
stimulate the economy by addressing the needs of all workers and
unemployed. We will fight to raise living standards for all workers.
· OPPOSING RACISM AND THE ATTACK ON CIVIL LIBERTIES. Racial profiling,
legal restrictions against people of color and immigrants must stop. Our
democratic rights to make a living must be defended.
Statement initiated by the Detroit Labor Committee for Peace & Justice