Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS PASSED DECISIVELY, IF NOT
UNANIMOUSLY AT THE CALIFORNIA LABOR FEDERATION CONVENTION ON JULY 13, 2004
IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA.
BUILD UNITY AND TRUST AMONG WORKERS WORLDWIDE
Resolution No. 6 - Originally presented by the San Francisco Labor
Council, San Francisco; the South Bay Central Labor Council, San Jose; the
Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, Castroville; and Plumbers and Fitters
Local 393 (San Jose).
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO and unions generally in the U.S. are deeply committed
to the concept of solidarity with labor movements in other countries; and
WHEREAS, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has a dubious history,
having been deployed frequently to promote U.S. government foreign policy
objectives, including assisting in overthrowing democratically elected
governments and interfering in the internal affairs of the labor movements
of other countries; and
WHEREAS, the conventions of the International Labor Organization guarantee
workers of every country the right to choose to be represented by the
labor organization or union of their own choosing, free from government,
corporate or foreign interference or constraints; and
WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO leadership, through the Federation's Solidarity
Center, has announced its intentions to apply for $3 to $5 million in
funding from the NED for its operations in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, AFL-CIO acceptance of NED funding for its solidarity work in Iraq
may give the appearance , if not the effect, of making the AFL-CIO appear
to be an agent of the U.S. government and its foreign policies, which may
taint the good reputation of the Federation in the eyes of labor movements
in other countries and draw into question the motivation and true
independence of the Federation in its international affairs; and
WHEREAS, the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council and its affiliate, Plumbers
and fitters Local 393 presented the "Clear the Air Resolution"
at the July 24, 2002 California Labor Federation Convention, and though
many delegates had current concern about Venezuela, "Clear the
Air" outlined an AFL-CIO role leading to the 1973 coup in Chile and,
among other things, called upon the AFL-CIO, "to fully account for
what was done in Chile and other countries where similar roles may have
been played in our name, to renounce such policies and practices...,
describe, country by country, exactly what activities it may still be
engaged in abroad with funds paid by government agencies and renounce any
such ties that could compromise our authentic credibility and the trust of
workers here and abroad and that would make us paid agents of government
or of the forces of corporate economic globalization"; and
WHEREAS, leaders of the State Federation presented a substitute
resolution, "Looking Ahead on AFL-CIO Policy Abroad," calling
"upon the AFL-CIO to convene a meeting with the State Federation and
interested affiliates in California to discuss their present foreign
affairs activities involving government funds. The aim of the meeting will
be to clear the air concerning AFL-CIO policy abroad and to affirm a
policy of genuine global solidarity"; and
WHEREAS, leaders of the State Federation, the SBLC, Local 393 and UFCW
Local 428 negotiated an agreement to accept the compromise "Looking
Ahead" resolution, based explicitly on the understanding that the
meeting with the AFL-CIO had the burden of satisfying the outlined
concerns and if it failed to do so, then the original "Clear the
Air" resolution would require implementation. In calls for unity,
that understanding was clearly stated on the floor of the convention
without discord or disagreement; and
WHEREAS, significant disagreement exists about whether the meeting that
took place on October 14, 2003 fully addressed the concerns raised within
the original"Clear the Air" resolution; and
WHEREAS, questions have been raised about how the information provided in
this meeting relates to information contained in newly released government
documents about the AFL-CIO's involvement in Venezuela and its acceptance
on National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funds; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that this 25th Biennial Convention of the California Labor
Federation, AFL-CIO affirm its support for the principles of autonomy,
independence and self-determination embodied in the International
Conventions of the International Labor Organization; and be it further
RESOLVED, that this 25th Biennial Convention of the California Labor
Federation, AFL-CIO urge the national AFL-CIO and its Solidarity Center to
exercise extreme caution in seeking or accepting funding from the U.S.
government, its agencies and any other institutions which it funds such as
the NED for its work in Iraq or elsewhere, and to accept these funds only
to further the goals of honest international labor solidarity, not to
pursue the policies of Corporate America and the United States government;
and be it further
RESOLVED that the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO supports the basic
demand of the "Clear the Air" resolution to call upon the
National AFL-CIO "to fully account for what was done in Chile (and
Venezuela) and other countries where similar roles may have been played in
our name, and to describe, country by country, exactly what activities it
may still be engaged in abroad with funds paid by government agencies and
renounce any such ties that could compromise our authentic credibility and
the trust of workers here and abroad and that would make us paid agents of
government or of the forces of corporate economic globalization"; and
be it further
RESOLVED, that the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO urge the National
AFL-CIO to fund its international programs and activities, whenever
possible, from funds generated directly from its affiliates and their
members; and be it finally
RESOLVED, that the California Labor Federation send this resolution to the
National AFL-CIO for immediate attention in order to move forward together
in creating trust and unity among workers worldwide.
The resolution adopted at the CA State Federation of Labor Convention in
support of immediate end to the occupation of Iraq may be viewed at http://uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=5656