CWA 1180 - Political Action

"The world says no to war" Feb. 15 NYC demo
As anti-war movement grows, labor plays a crucial role
February 2003

NYC FEB 15
Local 1180 will march with the labor contingent. Meet 11am 59th St. and 5th Ave., NW corner; noon rally on 1st Avenue, the labor section will be 60th to 63rd Sts. For more information, visit United for Peace and Justice's website by clicking here.You can also download posters from their site to spread the word.

Anti-war activity is growing in every corner of the country, and across the globe. It is having a measurable effect. And for the first time in U.S. history, a significant portion of the labor movement has come out against war. Local 1180 was among the earliest unions to pass a resolution against "President" Bush's war on Iraq. The next big mobilization against the war will be on February 15. That date has been designated an international day of protest, and it is estimated that upwards of 10 million people will be demonstrating against war worldwide. A national U.S. march and rally will be held here in New York City, and 1180 urges all of its members to come, and to bring their families, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

While the U.S. economy continued to tank, our government has fixated on a costly war against Iraq that would prohibit urgently needed domestic spending on jobs, housing, healthcare and education. Recent opinion polls show a majority of Americans disapprove of Bush's handling of the economy, and seven out of 10 think that the weapons inspectors in Iraq should have more time to do their job. Thus far, the administration has produced no evidence to support its call for war. There are no links between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, war would destablize the region and invite further terrorist attacks on the U.S., and—not least of all—war would cost tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of lives.

Labor's opposition to the war has been growing rapidly. When Local 1180 passed its anti-war resolution in October it was one of about two dozen locals and central labor bodies to take a stand. Now there are over 100, and seven internationals have taken anti-war positions as well—the latest was our own, CWA, which issued a statement on January 22. In January, unionists from all over the country met in Chicago to found a new national labor anti-war coalition, U.S. Labor Against War (USLAW). In New York City, an active coalition (NYCLAW, New York City Labor Against War) has been organizing since 2001.

Anti-war activity in the unions is just part of a national movement. A majority of U.S. churches have come out against the war. Forty-nine city councils, including Chicago's, have passed resolutions opposing the war and defending their residents against civil liberties incursions by the federal government. New York City Council Member Bill Perkins has introduced a resolution in the City Council; as of this writing, it is being stalled in committee (to contact the council and urge it to move on the resolution, click here to visit their website). From small towns to big cities, citizens have mobilized to tell our government we do not want this war. Hundreds of thousands have demonstrated again and again; most recently, 200,000 to 300,000 marched in Washington while 150,000 marched in San Francisco on January 18.

Internationally, the movement against war has been even stronger. Millions of Europeans have demonstrated against the war, and tens of thousands in Asia and elsewhere have as well. World opinion is clearly having an effect, as German, French, Russian and Chinese leaders have recently made clear that they will not support a U.S. attack on Iraq without evidence of inspections violations or weapons stock, and so far there has been no evidence.

February 15 will be the most important opportunity to stop this war on Iraq and demand that our government pay attention to the real crises we face here at home. Local 1180 members will march with the labor contingent, which is meeting at 11am on the NW corner of 59th St. and 5th Ave. The labor section of the rally, which starts at noon, has been designated as 60th to 63rd Streets, on 1st Avenue. Join us—help stop a war, help make history!

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