CWA 1180 - Political Action

U.S. Labor Against the War
Why labor should oppose this war
January 2005

U.S. Labor
Against the War

U.S. Labor Against the War (USLAW) is a national coalition of unions and individual members who oppose the war in Iraq. Local 1180 has been an USLAW member since its founding in Janiuary 2003, and Second Vice President Bill Henning serves on the USLAW steering committee.

It is mainly the families of working people who furnish the men and women put in harm's way in Iraq. It is working people who pay the lion's share of the tax burden of the war in Iraq. This makes this war a labor issue. Here are a few reasons why we should oppose this war.

1. The Reasons Given For Going To War Were Bogus

We were told we were threatened by Saddam Hussein's "weapons of mass destruction." There were no weapons of mass destruction.
We were told that Saddam Hussein was working with al Qaeda. But there were no links between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is only now becoming a force in Iraq because it has linked up with massive local resistance to the U.S. occupation.
This is not a war to defend our national security. It is a war to advance the corporate interests of Big Business - above all Oil - and the ambitions of politicians manipulating our patriotism and concern about terrorism.

2. Good People - Americans, Coalition, Iraqi - Are Dying In This Unjust War

As of January 1, 2005 1,335 U.S. men and women in uniform had been killed in Iraq. Nearly 10,000 were wounded. It's estimated that at least 100,000 Iraqis - a majority women and children - have perished as a result of the war/occupation. There's still no end in sight.

3. This Unjust War Is Draining Our National Resources

At the beginning of 2005 the cost of the war was approaching 150 billion dollars. That amount of money could have paid for four years of college for more than seven million of our kids. Or we could have used it to build a million new housing units. Or it could have paid for a year of Head Start for 19 million pre-school children.
The Bush administration is now ready to request another $100 billion. Continuing military operations in Iraq is a bottomless pit that will drive our nation deeper into debt while destroying all the essential social programs on which working people depend.

4. While claiming To Be For Democracy the U.S. Occupation Suppresses Iraqi Unions

The American occupation authority - and its hand-picked Allawi government - have kept Saddam Hussein's labor codes, effectively outlawing most unions, on the books. American GIs have been used to enforce these laws against efforts by Iraqi workers to organize. There is no hope for democracy in Iraq without a free labor movement.

These issues give American labor not only the right but the obligation to speak out and act against this war. That's why US Labor Against the War (USLAW) was formed. That's why more than one hundred union bodies have affiliated with USLAW - and many more will come.

In addition to internal education about the war within the labor movement we also work with organizations of veterans and military families; the religious and student communities; traditional peace groups; and others in a variety of informational and protest activities.

We have also established links with Iraqi unions - and raised material support for their heroic efforts.

We urge you to join us.

End the War - End the Occupation!
Bring Our GIs Home Now!

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