San Francisco Labor Council Resolution
Adopted August 26, 2002
No New War Against Iraq --
Keep the Government Off the Docks !
Whereas, the San Francisco Labor Council has for many years opposed the US
bombing and sanctions against Iraq, which have resulted in dire shortages of
food and medicine and contributed to the deaths of over 1,000,000 Iraqis
including over 500,000 children; and
Whereas, now the Bush Administration is beating the drums for a new war
against Iraq, despite mounting opposition to this war at home and abroad;
and
Whereas, in early 1998 the US governmentšs drive to launch a new war against
Iraq was abruptly halted by a rising opposition movement that included the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the San Francisco
Labor Council, the Alameda County Central Labor Council, and the students
who debated Defense Secretary Cohen and Secretary of State Albright on
national television at Ohio State University, which showed that the labor
movement and peoplešs movement do have the potential to force a reversal of
unjust government policies; and
Whereas, wasting billions of dollars on the Iraq war buildup translates into
cutbacks of essential and job-producing social programs at home such as
education, health care, social security and housing, and threatening the
rights of labor to strike and organize; and
Whereas, the Bush Administrationšs war drive has a domestic component
threatening to turn his "endless war" against the International Longshore &
Warehouse Union (ILWU) and as an opening wedge against the entire labor
movement, by threatening government intervention on the West Coast docks
under the guise of "Homeland Security," on the side of the Pacific
Maritime Association bosses and a coalition of anti-union corporate
interests including WalMart and The Gap; therefore be it
Resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO, reaffirm and join
the growing movement in opposition to any US war against Iraq, and call on
the unions and AFL-CIO at all levels and Congressional representatives to
publicly oppose this war; and be it further
Resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council strongly condemn any attempt
by the government, at any level, to introduce troops or otherwise intervene
in the contract dispute between the ILWU and the employers, and call on
Congressional representatives to publicly oppose this interference; and be
it further
Resolved, that the San Francisco Labor Council endorse the "Stop-the-War"
marches and rallies taking place September 14-16, 2002 in Oakland, Los
Angeles, Washington, D.C. and other cities, as well as the International Day
of Protest on October 26, 2002, behind the banner:
"No New War Against Iraq Keep the Government
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