Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 00:17:01 -0400
From: "US Labor Against the War" e_mcgrath@uslaboragainstwar.org

      To: Local, regional and national unions
      Labor councils and other regional labor bodies
      Allied labor organizations
      Ad hoc labor antiwar committees and union caucuses
      Community-based labor organizations and worker centers
      Labor movement antiwar activists and organizers

      From: U.S. Labor Against War

Has your labor organization, union, labor council and/or its principal
officers endorsed* the NATIONAL LABOR ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE?

 * Only organizations that have endorsed the Assembly qualify to send voting
delegates to it.

Below and attached are --
  a.. The Call to the Assembly,
  b.. Qualifications for representation and delegate status, and
  c.. Registration and reservation information.

BE SURE TO SEND IN YOUR ENDORSEMENT AND PLACE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATION EARLY.

****************************************************************************

US Labor Against War
CALL
to the
NATIONAL LABOR ASSEMBLY for PEACE
October 24-25 in Chicago, IL.

     Help publicize this important event. Please give this Call wide
distribution and circulation.

        *  Ask the principal officers of your organization to endorse the
Assembly and cosign the Call.
        * Get your organization to endorse the Assembly and cosign the Call.
        *  Get a commitment to send delegates from your organization.
        * Distribute the Call to other affiliates, regional labor bodies and
allied labor organizations.

  A copy in PDF format is also available at the USLAW website at
www.uslaboragainstwar.org .
Check the USLAW website (www.uslaboragainstwar.org) for the most up to date
list of endorsers, registration materials and other information about the
Assembly,  which will be posted as it becomes available.

For more information, direct your queries to: info@uslaboragainst.org or
write to USLAW, P.O. Box 153, 1718 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CALL to a NATIONAL LABOR ASSEMBLY for PEACE
OCTOBER 24-25, 2003 in CHICAGO

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The undersigned trade unionists invite you to join us for a National Labor
Assembly on the issues of peace, prosperity, security, democracy and
justice.  Its purpose will be to forge an ongoing labor coalition that will
challenge the U.S. foreign policy of permanent war and its consequences for
working families both here at home and abroad.  The Assembly will be held in
Chicago on the evening of October 24 and all day on October 25, 2003.

In the months preceding the invasion of Iraq, hundreds of local, state and
national unions, central labor councils and other labor organizations took
official positions opposing war on Iraq.  This led to the founding, on
January 11 in Chicago, of U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW).  On February
27 the AFL-CIO Executive Council adopted its own resolution opposing Bush's
unilateral and preemptive military action.  By the time the invasion of Iraq
was actually launched on March 20, labor organizations representing almost
one-third of all organized workers in the U.S. were on record opposed to the
war.

U.S. troops are now committed to an indeterminate occupation of that
war-devastated country.  All the important questions about Iraq's future
remain under a cloud, including what role the Iraqi people will have in
shaping their own future and whether Iraqi workers will enjoy
internationally recognized labor rights, including the right to organize
freely, to bargain collectively and to strike.

Despite its rhetoric about liberation, it is increasingly clear that the
Bush administration is motivated more by global ambitions and corporate
interests than by the freedom of Iraqis.  Consistent with its belligerent
posture and preemptive war doctrine, threats of military action against
other countries continue to emanate from the administration.  Its announced
decision to resume development of tactical nuclear weapons will escalate the
arms race, making the U.S. and the whole world less, not more, secure.

Our nation is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades.
Organized labor and working families are under a relentless assault from the
Bush administration on every front.  Government has become a willing ally of
big business in attacking unions and the right to organize and bargain.
More than 180,000 federal workers have lost the right to union
representation in the name of "national security."  While the social safety
net is being shredded, the administration is massively cutting taxes for the
wealthy.  It has undermined cherished democratic ideals and eroded
Constitutional rights with measures like the Patriot Act and Homeland
Security Act.  The budget for the military and prisons continues to grow,
while social programs and public sector jobs and services are being
downsized, outsourced, privatized or eliminated.  Schools are being
shuttered and teachers laid off by the thousands, veterans benefits are
being slashed, millions are jobless, many millions more are without health
care and adequate housing. In communities of color, among immigrants and the
poor, these cuts will have a disproportionately painful impact.  Children
will suffer their worst effects. The $200 billion being spent to topple
Saddam Hussein and reconstruct Iraq could have been spent addressing these
urgent needs.

The stakes at this moment in history are high.  For many trade unionists who
did not oppose the war earlier, the relationship between a militarized
foreign policy and its effect on our domestic economy are becoming painfully
clear.  "National security" has become the cover for gutting many of the
social and economic gains won by working people during the 20th century.
The Administration is using the power of the US military to boost Bush's
image in the face of the disastrous results of his economic policies.

This administration presents the most serious threat to the economic and
social well being, civil liberties and civil rights,  security of the nation
and peace in the world of any in memory.  Bush's defeat in the 2004 election
is of paramount urgency. However, in seeking his defeat, we must assure the
defeat of the policies he has promoted so that no matter who is elected, it
will be politically impossible to pursue them.  We believe organized labor
can defeat these policies only by making the connection between the
militarization of U.S. foreign policy and the militarization of our society,
the curtailment of civil liberties and encroachment on our Constitutional
rights, and the bankrupting of government services at all levels.

We propose to create a voice within the labor movement that is an energetic
advocate for policies that strengthen international institutions so that
conflicts between nations can be resolved through diplomacy rather than war.
We seek a U.S. foreign policy that promotes global economic and social
justice, not the use of military force.  We want our government to meet
human needs, not cater to corporate greed.

INITIATING SIGNATORIES
(list in formation)

  ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

   1199 New England SEIU
   AFSCME Dist. Council 1707, NYC, by President Brenda Stokely
   AFT Local 2121, San Francisco, by President Allan Fisher
   Arabs Building Community - Bay Area (CA) Labor Committee
   Bay Area (CA) Labor Committee for Peace & Justice
   California Federation of Teachers, by President Mary Bergan
   Chicago Labor Against the War, by Treasurer Larry Duncan
   Coalition of University Employees (UC - CA) Anti-war Caucus
   Washington, DC Metropolitan Labor Council, by President Joslyn Williams
   King County (Seattle) Labor Council, by Executive Secretary Steve
Williamson
   Los Angeles College Faculty Guild, Local 1521, by the Executive Board
   Massachusetts Labor for Justice With Peace
   Pride at Work by Co-President Nancy Wohlforth and Executive Director
Marta Ames
   PSC-CUNY/AFT Local 2334, by Senior College Officer Nancy Romer
   San Francisco Labor Council, by Secretary-Treasurer Walter Johnson
   SEIU Health Care Workers Local 250 (CA) by President Sal Rosselli
   United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers, by General
Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple
   United Educators of San Francisco, by the UESF Executive Board

INDIVIDUAL ENDORSEMENTS
(organizations and titles for identification only)

   Amatullah Alaji-Sabrie, President of Local 3, Coalition of University
Employees (UC - CA)
   Thomas Balanoff, President, SEIU Local 1 and International V.P. of SEIU
   Alan Benchich, President, UAW Local 909, Warren, MI
   Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer, Service Employees International Union
   Gene Carroll, Director of Union Leadership Program, ILR, Cornell
   University
   Miguel Contrerez, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los Angeles County
Federation of Labor
   Alice Dale, President, SEIU Local 49 and International V.P. of SEIU
   (Portland)
   Art Doherty, President, Philadelphia Area Local APWU, V.P. Philadelphia
CLC, V.P. PA State Federation of Labor
   Maria Elena Durazo, President, HERE Local 11, Los Angeles; VP of HERE
   David Foster, Director, United Steelworkers of America, Region 11 (MN)
   Fred Hirsch, Vice President, Plumbers & Fitters Local 393, San Jose
   Claudia Horning, Statewide President, Coalition of University Employees
(UC-CA)
   Marty Hittelman, Vice President, CA Federation  of Teachers
   John Kirk, Chief Grievance Officer, AFT Local 1493, San Mateo County
Community College Faculty
   Nancy Lessin, USWA 9358 (Boston); Co-founder of MFSO
   Zev Kvitky, President, United Stanford Workers; Vice-President, SEIU
Local 715
   Charles Lester Political Director, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor
   Michael Letwin, Co-Convenor, NYC Labor Against War
   Elena Marcheschi, Chicago Labor for Peace, Prosperity & Justice
   Eliseo Medina, Executive V.P., SEIU Western Region
   David Novogrodsky, Executive Director, Professional & Technical Engineers
Local 21, San Francisco
   Debby Pope, Director of Communications, Chicago Teachers Union, AFT #1
   Charley Richardson, SEIU 254 (Boston) and Co-founder, MFSO
   Louie Rocha, President, CWA Local 9423, San Jose
   Wendy Thompson, UAW President 235, Detroit
   Jerry Tucker, Executive Director, United Health Care Workers, St. Louis
   Howard Wallace, Executive Committee, San Francisco Labor Council; Former
National Co-Chair, Pride at Work
   Gerry Zero, President, Teamsters Local 705, Chicago

Our website provides an easy and convenient way for both organizations and
individuals to endorse the National Labor Assembly for Peace.  Just go to
the USLAW home page (www.uslaboragainstwar.org).  At top center is a purple
box with a link to the endorsement form.  It can also be accessed from a
link in a box at the left below the table of contents.

We encourage principal officers to endorse as individuals while they take
the steps needed to get an organizational endorsement, then return to
register their organization's endorsement once it has been approved.

If you have any questions, let us know by writing to
info@uslaboragainstwar.org.

Registration procedures and forms and information about hotel reservations
will be available on the webpage shortly.

OR

COMPLETE and RETURN this form!  (Hotel information is below the form)

 Add your organizational or individual endorsement to the call by returning
the form below:

        ____ My labor organization endorses this call and wants to be listed
as a cosigner.
        ____ I endorse the call and want to be listed as an individual
cosigner with organizational
                affiliation and office for identification only.

                  NAME_____________________________________________
                  DATE_______________________
                  OFFICE/POSITION____________________________
                  LABOR ORGANIZATION_____________________________________
LOCAL NO.______
                  ADDRESS______________________________________________
                  CITY_____________________STATE____
                  ZIP______
                  PHONE (____)__________________FAX (____)__________________
                  CELL/PAGER (_____)__________________
                  EMAIL
ADDRESS___________________________________________________________

                  ___I PLAN TO ATTEND THE ASSEMBLY
                        ___MY ORGANIZATION WILL SEND DELEGATES

Return to USLAW at info@uslaboragainstwar.org
or send to
USLAW, P.O. Box 153, 1718 M ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036

============================================================================

U.S. Labor Against War

National Labor Assembly for Peace
Evening of October 24 and all day on October 25 in Chicago

Guidelines for Establishing Delegate Status
Organizations and individuals will be entitled to representation at the
National Labor Assembly for Peace on the following basis:

I.  CATEGORIES OF DELEGATES:

There shall be five general types of delegates:

1.   Delegates from endorsing labor organizations (national, intermediate,
local);

2.   Delegates from local labor anti-war committees

3.   Delegates from other allied labor movement organizations;

4.   At-large delegates (individuals); and

5.   Fraternal (non-voting) delegates invited by the Continuations Committee
to participate (foreign guests, representatives of organizations outside the
labor movement, etc.).

The co-convenors of U.S. Labor Against the War, Bob Muehlenkamp and Gene
Bruskin, shall automatically have delegate status with one vote each.

II.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.    No delegate may represent more than one organization.

2.   There shall be no vote by proxy.

3.    An organization may send as many delegates as the number of votes to
which it is entitled.

4.   Each delegate shall cast the number of votes to which the organization
s/he represents is entitled divided by the number of delegates present and
voting from that organization.
5.   Organizations sending delegates to the Assembly are urged to be mindful
of the need for diversity in  representation. Every effort should be made to
have the Assembly represent the diversity of the labor movement with regard
to gender and gender orientation, race, ethnicity, age, as well as industry
sector and geographic distribution.
6.   The registration fee for each delegate shall be $50.00, payable in
advance of the opening of the Assembly.

7.    Any complaint, dispute or problem regarding delegate selection will be
resolved by the Continuations Committee of USLAW or a sub-committee
designated for that purpose either prior to or during the National Labor
Assembly.

8.    Non-delegates may observe the Assembly proceedings from an area
reserved for guests and observers.  Non-delegates shall pay a registration
fee of $10.00.

III.  DELEGATES FROM ENDORSING LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

1.    Endorsing labor organizations are those that have formally endorsed
the National Labor Assembly prior to Oct. 17, 2003 and have informed USLAW
of that endorsement in writing or electronically.

2.   Endorsing national unions shall be entitled to five (5) votes each.

3.   Endorsing local unions (lodges, branches, chapters, etc.) shall be
entitled to votes on the following basis:

      1 vote -- up to 100 members
      2 votes -- 101 to 500 members
      3 votes -- 501 to 1,000 members
      4 votes -- 1,001 to 2,000 members
      5 votes -- 2,001 to 3,000 members
      6 votes -- 3,001 to 4,000 members
      7 votes -- 4,001 to 5,000 members
      8 votes -- 5,001 to 6,000 members
      9 votes -- 6,001 to 7,000 members
      10 votes -- 7,001 to 8,000 members
      11 votes -- 8,001 to 9,000 members
      12 votes -- 9,001 to 10,000 members
      13 votes -- 10,001 to 11,000 members

One additional vote for each additional 5,000 members (or major fraction
thereof) up to a maximum of 25 votes.

4.   Endorsing intermediate labor bodies (Central Labor Councils, joint
councils, district councils, state federations, etc.) shall each be entitled
to 3 votes.

IV.  DELEGATES FROM LABOR ANTI-WAR COMMITTEES

1.    Previously established ad hoc labor antiwar committees whose antiwar
positions had been taken prior to the date on which the Call was issued
(June 27, 2003) shall each be entitled to 5 votes. Delegates must be
nominated at an open publicized membership meeting and elections  shall be
conducted in a democratic manner.  Ad hoc labor antiwar committees that come
into existence after June 27, 2003 may apply to the Continuations Committee
to have voting delegates at the National Labor Assembly.

V.  DELEGATES FROM OTHER LABOR MOVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

1.  Designated national allied labor organizations (PAW, CLUW, Jobs with
Justice, APALA, LCLAA, CBTU, A. Phillip Randolph) that have endorsed the
Assembly shall be entitled to 5 votes each.  Endorsing local affiliates of
national allied labor organizations shall be entitled to 1 vote each.

VI.  DELEGATES FROM NON-ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
1.    Individual members of other non-endorsing labor organizations shall
participate through the At-Large Caucus.  The Continuations Committee shall
establish an At-Large Caucus which shall meet immediately prior to the
opening plenary. The caucus shall elect one voting delegate for every 25
at-large delegates or major fraction thereof in attendance at the Caccus at
the time of the election.

2.   The Continuations Committee shall invite and bestow fraternal delegate
credentials to individuals and representatives of other organizations as
will further the goals of the Assembly. Fraternal delegates will have no
vote and may speak only if invited by the Convention Chairperson.

VII.  REGISTRATION

1.    Each participant shall complete a registration form.

2.   Registration fees of delegates must be received no later than the
opening of the Assembly. Registration fees of non-delegates may be received
prior to or during the Assembly.  There shall be no registration fee for
invited guests and fraternal delegates.

VIII.  RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

1.    All disputes regarding delegate status shall be resolved by the
Continuations Committee, or a sub-committee thereof designated for that
purpose, whose determination shall be final and binding.

 =======================================================================

 HOLIDAY INN - CHICAGO MART PLAZA

350 N Orleans St. Chicago, IL 60654 / 312-836-5000
U.S. Labor Against The War
NATIONAL LABOR ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE
10/24-26, 2004
                For reservations call: 312-836-5000
                Or 1-800-Holiday (465-4329)

            Identify yourself with the above group to get the group rate of
            $99.00 single or double plus tax of 14.9%. You must also
            give the group code of  " VUS "   in order to receive this
            special rate.
            All reservations must be received by October 3, 2003.
            Any reservation received after that date will be on an
            availability basis and at prevailing rates and not the
            discounted group rate.
            The Holiday Inn Mart Plaza is located just north of the Ohio
            exit off of I 94 in downtown Chicago and adjacent to the Chicago
            Merchandise Mart.