Unions Meet in Chicago, Form USLAW, Pass Unanimous Resolution

By Bob Muehlenkamp, AlterNet. Posted January 13, 2003.

Over 100 trade unionists from60 union and Central Labor Councils met in Chicago Sat., Jan. 11 at Teamster L. 705.

They heard reports summarizing the growing union antiwar activity around the country. They also heard reports about what is really going on at the UN and around the world, and about the other antiwar coalitions.

They unanimously passed a resolution saying Bush has simply "not make the case" that Hussein poses a threat to America and that this war must be stopped. The resolution encouraged unions to get involved in this debate because "union members and leaders have the responsibility to inform the members about issues that affect the lives and jobs of members, their families, and all other working people." They created an organization, US Labor Against the War (USLAW) to carry on and build the union antiwar movement, and they rose over $30,000 in the room to support it; every local in the room agreed to go back to their local to try to raise more money.

They decided to ask all unions and members coming to demonstrations in DC and SF on Jan 18 to march together under the "Labor Against War" banner.

And they decided to try to get at least 200 unions to sign onto the resolution before Jan 28, and to carry on the union antiwar activity no matter what the Bush administration does on Jan 28 and beyond."

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