Photos of Oct 7 March, Rally and Interfaith Service are on the website.

<http://www.nynotinourname.org/photos1.html>

Washington, D.C. 			 October 8, 2001

Press Release by AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney on Support for Bush
Action Against Terrorists: Urges Congress to "Honor Working Families" by
Supporting Aviation Worker Relief Legislation

The president of the AFL-CIO today praised President George W. Bush for
taking "aggressive, considered action" against terrorist Osama bin Laden and
the Taliban, and implored Congress not to forget working families" as it
takes up relief measures aimed at laid-off aviation workers.

"We support the aggressive, considered military action ordered by President
Bush this weekend, and we stand with all Americans behind the men and women
who are now in harm's way," said AFL-CIO president John J. Sweeney.
"President Bush has demonstrated an enormous amount of patience in building
a worldwide coalition against terrorism, and we are grateful for the care he
is now demonstrating in attacking only military targets in Afghanistan."

"His actions show the world our concern for the people in that war-torn
country, just as they warn Osama bin Laden and the Taliban regime of
impending justice."

Sweeney said labor's support for President Bush is being underscored in full
page advertisements running tomorrow in the New York Times, the Washington
Post and a dozen other daily newspapers. The ads are aimed at convincing
Congress to extend badly-needed relief to laid-off aviation industry workers
who are suffering as a result of the terrorist attack.

"We're standing behind our President in the counterattack on terrorism," say
the ads, which dramatically note the role workers played in responding to
the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and are now playing
in cleanup, counseling and relief efforts. "Many of us lost our lives in the
attacks," the ads note. "More of us are losing our jobs in the aftermath,
over 140,000 of us in the aviation industry alone."

The ads urge U.S. Senators and Representatives to "honor America's workers"
by supporting Senate Bill 1454, authored by Sen. Jean Carnahan (D-MO), and
similar measures in the House. The legislation extends unemployment
benefits, offers job retraining and provides medical benefits for aviation
industry workers.

FYI

Dear Unionists and Labor Activists:

On Sunday morning, October 7 -- just as the U.S. government was
launching its attacks on cities across Afghanistan -- 70 trade union and
other labor movement activists from 35 organizations from across the San
Francisco Bay Area gathered at the Institute for Labor Education in
Berkeley, Calif., and voted to constitute Labor for Peace & Justice.

The meeting was held at the initiative of the Bay Area Labor Left (BALL)
and was co-chaired by Andrea Dehlendorf and Michael Eisenscher.
Following a rich political discussion on the labor movement's response
to the tragic events of Sept. 11, the participants accepted the
political framework expressed in the San Francisco Labor Council
statement of Sept. 24, 2001.  [See SFLC statement below.] Other proposed
points of unity included the need to develop a clear understanding of
who is being asked to bear the costs of the U.S. war drive and how the
government's proposed course will impact social services, jobs and
economic security for working people in the United States.

The second half of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of proposals
for action and concluded with an agreement to establish a three-prong
campaign to promote labor participation in the growing movement against
the U.S. war in the Middle East.

The first level of activity involved building labor contingents,
wherever possible with the endorsement of union locals and bodies, in
the various marches, protest rallies and teach-ins taking place across
the Bay Area in response to the bombing of Afghanistan.

The second focus of the Labor Committee was to get resolutions approved
in union locals and central labor councils, using the S.F. Labor Council
as a model. The third area of activity involved developing
labor-oriented materials to promote a longer-term educational campaign
in the labor movement about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and
how labor should respond.

The first point of the action campaign was put into practice that very
afternoon, when a Labor Committee for Peace and Justice contingent
gathered at Powell and Market Sts. at the Emergency Protest to Protest
the U.S. Bombing of Afghanistan. The Labor Committee activists, with
their hastily crafted banner, joined the 1000 or more protesters in a
rally and march that took them to Mission HIgh School, where an antiwar
teach-in was taking place. San Jose plumbers' union member Fred Hirsch
addressed the rally at Powell and Market Sts. on behalf of the newly
formed Labor Committee for Peace in Justice.

The 1500 antiwar activists who had assembled at Mission High School at
the antiwar teach-in called weeks earlier by the Town Hall Coalition
Against War and Hate heard a report from ILWU member Robert Irminger on
behalf of the Labor Committee. Irminger summoned all the union members
at the meeting to join the Labor Committee and build a large union
contingent for the mass march and rally on October 20.

Following the teach-in, both antiwar groupings -- now 2000-to-3000
strong -- merged and took to the streets
of San Francisco's Mission District, chanting, "Stop the Bombing, Stop
the War; U.S. Out of the Middle East!"
- "FBI, CIA, Terrorists Made in the USA!" and dozens of other such
chants.

On Monday, October 8, Michael Eisenscher on behalf of the new labor
peace committee addressed a spirited
rally attended by hundreds of students and faculty on the U.C.-Berkeley
campus.  He spoke about the need to
defend civil liberties, what remains of the social safety net, and the
right to organize and strike as critical
elements in the struggle for peace.  He noted, "Justice is indivisible.
An injustice anywhere is an injustice
everywhere."

The next meeting of the Labor Committee for Peace and Justice will be
held Sunday, October 28, at the
Institute for Labor Education at U.C.-Berkeley.  Labor for Peace &
Justice has established a listserve. To
subscribe, send a blank message to <Labor4Justice-subscribe@...>
or write to
<getorganized@...>.

In solidarity,

Alan Benjamin,
member, OPEIU Local 3
member, Continuations Committee, OWC

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

S.F. LABOR COUNCIL STATEMENT ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

[Note: The following statement was adopted by the S.F. Labor Council at
its delegates meeting on
Monday, September 24, 2001. The statement was submitted to the Labor
Council by the Executive
Board of OPEIU Local 3. It was adopted following one friendly amendment
from the floor.]

The San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO) joins the nation and the world
in mourning the devastating loss of
life resulting from the vicious attacks on the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon, as well as the crashed plane
in Pennsylvania. We condemn the criminality of those attacks and those
responsible.

Many of those killed were union members and other workers killed on the
job. Our hearts go out to our sisters
and brothers and their loved ones. We particularly honor the rescue
workers who continue to risk their lives to
save others.

No one, in this country or any other, should suffer the fate of the
victims in these attacks. We demand that the
perpetrators of these crimes be brought to justice. The United States
has a responsibility to establish with
irrefutable facts the identity of those who were behind these attacks.
The tragic attacks of September 11 should
be treated as a heinous crime rather than an act of war.

As we mourn this tremendous loss of life, we declare our resistance to
efforts to use this tragedy to engage in
military actions that can lead only to more carnage and senseless loss
of life. We reject the idea that entire
nations should be punished for the actions of a few. Bombing raids and
military strikes will only fuel an endless
cycle of revenge that can only bring the deaths of more innocent
civilians, both here and around the world.

In the face of such sorrow, we urge all people, particularly members of
the labor family, to stand united against
prejudice, hatred and intolerance wherever it arises. Within our own
borders, we call upon all in our
communities to join us in immediately confronting any anti-Arab,
anti-Muslim, anti-Sikh or other anti-immigrant
hate speech or acts of violence, whether in our neighborhoods, our
workplaces, or in the media. We strongly
oppose efforts to curtail the rights of immigrants and refugees,
including expulsion of suspect foreign nationals
without due process.

We also declare our resistance to efforts to use this tragedy to curtail
our civil liberties. Militarization of our
society inevitably leads to erosion of civil liberties and workers'
rights. We must remain vigilant in the defense of
our democratic principles, including the protection of our civil
liberties. Already proposals have been put
forward to allow increased federal surveillance of private activities,
and there is a strong push for greater use of
racial profiling. In the past, national security has often been used to
justify interference with our rights to freedom
of association, to organize, to strike and to picket. We must redouble
our efforts to fight for justice, and must
not allow those who oppose our goals to use a national crisis as an
excuse to assault our civil and economic
rights.

We encourage open discussion as to the origins of this crisis and the
most appropriate response to the atrocities
that have taken place - particularly about the need for a foreign policy
that is based on economic and political
justice.

A century ago, Samuel Gompers, first President of the AFL, said that
labor wants more justice and less
revenge. Our greatest memorial to our fallen sisters and brothers will
be a world of peace, justice, tolerance and
understanding, underscored by the solidarity of working people.

Hello, Fellow Trade Unionist:

Attached is a statement drafted by an ad hoc group of activists in
Washington, DC who are members or staff of unions.  We came together to
discuss our growing concern, as trade unionists and activists for social
justice, about the war agenda being pursued by the Bush Administration after
the tragedy on September 11.  As a result of these discussions, we developed
the attached statement and agreed to circulate it among our colleagues and
friends.
If you agree with the statement, indicate your agreement by email and return
your name to Emilie Junge at SEIU: jungee@... .  Your name will be
added, with your union affiliation or status for identification purposes
only.  If you would like only your name added, please so indicate.

Emilie Junge
SEIU Eastern Region Coordinator
(202) 898-3424
(202) 898-3348 (fax)
========================================

A Time for Justice, Not Vengeance
An Open Letter to the Labor Movement


         The stunning events of September 11 struck especially close to home
for those of us in the labor movement.  Hundreds of union members-and
thousands of other working people-have been killed in the assaults.  Food
service workers, secretaries, window washers, janitors, maintenance workers,
flight attendants, communications workers, public employees, firefighters
and police officers are among the brothers and sisters we have lost.  They
reflected the vast diversity of today’s labor movement: women and men,
people of all colors and ethnic backgrounds, gay and straight, and recent
immigrants.
         Along with the rest of America, we condemn the attacks of September
11, mourn the losses and feel anger at the injustice of innocent victims,
and empathize with the devastated families who must now go on.  But much of
the substance and tone of the US government’s response to these events has
also troubled us.  We fear that blind anger and violent retaliation will
only result in further loss of innocent lives, both American and foreign,
and perpetuate a destructive cycle of violence that has already gone on too
long.  We also do not believe that such violence will result in the justice
that most Americans are truly seeking.
         As a result, we call upon all those who work for social and economic
justice, especially our sisters and brothers in the labor movement, to
incorporate into their response to the crisis six basic principles:
1.      Promote Solidarity.  We cannot let the acts of a few extremists be
used to justify hostility towards other Muslims, Arab-Americans, immigrants
in general, or any other targeted group.  We must be willing to speak out
publicly against any acts of discrimination or intimidation based on race,
ethnicity, religious affiliation, national origin, or immigration status.
We must stand in solidarity with all working people.
2.      Support Working People. We must insist on a relief package for
displaced workers and compensation for the injured and families of the lost,
paying particular attention to the needs of undocumented workers and those
not protected by union representation. We must also be vigilant for attacks
on organized labor, ranging from employers exploiting the situation to
undermine organizing and bargaining, to legislators passing anti-labor
legislation in the name of the “war effort.”
3.      Protect Civil Liberties.  Domestic security is necessary to protect
our freedoms and way of life.  But we cannot let the quest for such security
actually undermine those very freedoms and liberties.  Especially in this
time of crisis, civil liberties must be maintained.
4.      Stop the Cycle of Violence.  Nothing excuses the attacks. We must
take seriously the threat of terrorism and develop an effective response.
To do so, we must recognize that the violence did not begin on September 11.
Instead, those terrible events were merely the latest in a long-standing
cycle of violence.  To perpetuate that cycle with a lengthy series of overt
and covert military operations will merely result in the loss of more
innocent lives and will pave the way for more retaliations and assaults on
innocent Americans in the future.
5.      Address the Sources of Violence.  Instead of more violence, we must
be willing to seriously examine the conditions and policies that have
provided the soil within which terrorism germinates.  We must reexamine US
foreign policy, the stationing of massive numbers of US troops abroad, and
US support for undemocratic regimes.  We must be willing to hear the cries
for justice and freedom that come from the world’s poor, and act to support
efforts that promote justice.
6.      Seek Justice, not Vengeance.  We should reject the crude calls for
frontier “justice” of “dead or alive.”  Instead, we should affirm the
importance of international law and seek civilized justice through the
international courts and multi-national mediating bodies.  Justice is a
global issue that requires the cooperation of many nations.  It cannot be
imposed on the world by a single “super-power.”  True justice will punish
those responsible for injustice while providing insurance against future
violence.
We call on all people to incorporate these principles into their work and
actions.  We call especially on those in the labor movement to join us as we
continue to do what the labor movement should always do: work for fairness
and justice in our society and across the globe.
                                                 --- Labor Committee for
Peace and Justice

Resolution Adopted by AFSCME Local 2627 DC 37

Crisis brings out the best and the worst in humanity.  People have
been doing all kinds of things to help following the attacks of
September 11.  They've worked tirelessly on the rescue and recovery
efforts, they've contributed generously to relief funds, and they've
given blood in unprecedented numbers.  In addition to these wonderful
selfless acts, there have been some awful things done by a hateful
few.  Arab-Americans, Muslims, South Asians, and others have been
subjected to a series of hate crimes in the last few weeks.  People
have been insulted, beaten, and even killed.  Mosques have been
firebombed.  Some, desperate for anyone to blame for the terrorist
attacks, have called for mass deportations and punitive restrictions
on future immigration.

None of this helps the people who died or serves justice.  All it
does is create additional innocent victims.  Racism is against
everything unions should stand for.  As union members - and simply as
caring human beings - we need to do everything we can to fight
against it.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney is among the many unionists who have
spoken out against these acts of  bigotry: "We must do everything we
can to prevent acts of prejudice against our fellow Americans based
on racial, ethnic or religious stereotypes.  This attack was a
terrorist attack, not an attack by any religious or ethnic group."

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, Local 2627 goes
on record opposed to the scapegoating of Arab-Americans, Muslims,
South Asians, immigrants, and others.  We call on our members and
others in the labor movement to continue donating blood, contributing
to disaster relief funds, and volunteering their services in any way
they think appropriate. And beyond this, if they hear people making
anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, or anti-immigrant remarks, we call on them to
speak out against this misdirected anger.

- This resolution was passed unanimously on 10/4/01 by the Executive
Board of Local 2627, DC 37, AFSCME  (NYC Electronic Data Processing
Personnel; over 3,000 members)

Annan: Deaths of U.N. workers in Afghanistan a 'hard blow'

October 9, 2001
Posted: 1:00 PM EDT (1700 GMT)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on
Tuesday called the news of the deaths of at least four local
employees of a U.N.-funded mine-clearing operation in Afghanistan
a "hard blow."  The workers were killed Tuesday east of Kabul,
Afghanistan, during a U.S. airstrike when a missile hit the building
where they worked, the United Nations said.

The building was next to a transmission tower used by the Taliban
that may have been the intended target.

"The council members raised ... their deepest condolences and
sympathy to the families of those aid workers who died and of course
stressed the fact that we need to do all we can to protect innocent
civilians in the struggle, and of course for the U.N. it is a hard
blow," Annan said. "It's something that is of great concern to me and
the staff in this organization."

Earlier, a spokeswoman offered the official U.N. reaction.
"Today the U.N. coordinator appeals to the international community to
protect innocent civilians while military strikes are going on," said
spokeswoman Stephanie Bunker.  "People need to distinguish between
combatants and those innocent civilians who do not bear arms. They
also need to be mindful for protecting assets essential for the
survival of Afghan civilians."

an excellent statement by my postal brothers and sisters north of the
border. the cupw has an admirable radical tradition.

dennis o'neil





Intolerance and War Are Not Solutions to Terror  2001-09-26

In the days following the devastating terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, on New York and Washington, it is little wonder that people
in the U.S. and elsewhere have experienced great difficulties in
coming to terms with these horrific events.

The toll of innocent lives was mind-numbing. Many of the slain were
union members or unorganized workers, murdered at their workplace.
There can be no goal or cause which could ever justify the crimes
carried out by the faceless and hidden killers responsible for these
acts.
While the membership and leaders of CUPW join in unconditionally
condemning these terrorist acts and in calling for the perpetrators
to be brought to justice, it is also important for us to renew our
commitment to the struggle against the cycle of hatred, bigotry and
violence threatening to follow on the heels of this outrage.

Recently, we have witnessed a disturbing increase of verbal and
physical attacks against Arab and Islamic people, as well as against
some non-Islamic religious communities. Most of these working people
are not connected to the Middle East, much less to a terrorist group.
Our desire to see terrorists brought to justice should never be
confused with attacks on ethnicity, religion or on whole communities.

In fact, perhaps the strongest statement CUPW members can make to
commemorate those who have suffered and died in this tragedy is in
expressing our solidarity with all our sisters and brothers, whether
at work, in the community or abroad, who are in danger of suffering
retribution in response to a horrific act for which they are not
responsible.  For this reason, we view with alarm the calls for
massive military intervention in countries in the Mid-East, an
intervention which can only lead to unthinkable carnage and the
deaths of uncountable innocents. This is precisely in line with the
designs of those who planned and carried out the attacks of September
11.  CUPW calls upon the Canadian Government to take a stand against
military adventures at this crucial time and, instead, embark upon a
more difficult but also more courageous effort to find political
solutions to the political and ideological conflicts underlying the
attacks of September 11.

                         Solidarity and the struggle for peace are not
dispensable.

                         In solidarity,

                         Dale Clark
                         National President
                         Canadian Union Of Postal Workers

TRADE UNION SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE - STATEMENT AGAINST THE WAR

3 October 2001

We strongly condemn the killing of civilians in the terrorist attacks
carried out in the US on 11 September 2001, and all other acts of
terrorism
against innocent civilians.

We believe it is crucially important to give justice to the victims of
such
attacks as well as eliminate the causes of acts of terrorism to prevent
them from occurring in future.

We note that US policies in the so-called Middle East have played a
major
role in leading to the attacks of September 11. In particular:

  From 1979 onwards, the US funded, armed and trained Osama bin Laden,
the
Taliban and other jihadi groups in Afghanistan through the Pakistani
ISI,
which it also supported. Even on 27 September 2001, The Wall Street
Journal
reported that former president George Bush, the father of the present
President George Bush (Jr), still has substantial business connections
with
the bin Laden family.

The US has undermined secular, democratic movements and governments -
for
example, overthrowing the democratic government of Mossadegh in Iran in
1953 and installing the brutal dictatorship of Shah Reza Pahlevi,
providing
unlimited support to the suppression of the Palestinian liberation
struggle
by the Zionist state of Israel, and so on. These policies have fuelled
the
growth of fundamentalist and communal forces.

The US and UK have bombed Iraq repeatedly for the past ten years,
killing
over 200,000 Iraqis. In addition, US-imposed sanctions have killed at
least
1 million civilians, more than half of them children. In August 1998,
the
US bombed a pharmeceutical factory producing the bulk of Sudan's
life-saving medicines, as a result of which hundreds of thousands of
people
- again, many of them children - have died. These and similar atrocities
fuel the anger which produces recruits for terrorist groups.

We condemn the racist and communal attacks against Arabs, Muslims and
others which have followed the attacks of September 11. We oppose all
attacks on civil liberties carried out in the name of the war against
terrorism, as well as the diversion of tax-payers' money from
healthcare,
education and social welfare to military budgets.

We strongly oppose any military strikes against Afghanistan, Iraq or any
other country. These would only result in the killing of more innocent
civilians as well as retaliatory acts of terrorism against civilians in
the
countries carrying out or supporting the strikes. Instead, we call on
the
UN to:

produce a consistent definition of 'acts of terrorism' which does not
depend on the race, religion, nationality or any other characteristic of
the perpetrator or victims; and
speedily set up a permanent International Criminal Court, as resolved in
1998, which can try, and if convicted punish, perpetrators of acts of
terrorism and other crimes against humanity, as well as those who
provide
them with material support.

We call upon trade unions and workers everywhere to support these
demands
in order to avert a catastrophic escalation in violence and terrorism
worldwide.
______________________________________________________________________

Trade Union Solidarity Committee, c/o Blue Star Employees Federation, 6
Neelkanth Apartments, Gokuldas Pasta Road, Dadar (E), Mumbai 400
014.  E-mail: aibef@...

The Trade Union Solidarity Committee (TUSC) is a co-ordination of about
25
independent/unaffiliated/internal unions in the Bombay region.

PLEASE FORWARD TO OTHERS

All trade unionists, regardless of location, are invited to endorse the NYC
Labor Against War statement below.  (If you are not a trade unionist, please
forward this to union members.)  Endorsers will be listed by city and/or
country.  (All affiliations and titles will be “for identification only," unless
otherwise requested.)

A hard-copy sign-up form and latest list of signers can be downloaded from
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaborAgainstWar/files/>.

To list your name (current list of signers below), please e-mail your name and
union affiliation/position to LaborAgainstWar@yahoogroups.com, letwin@...,
or fill in the blanks below, and fax this page to 212.343.0966.

Name:                                Union/Position:

E-mail:                              City:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW YORK CITY LABOR AGAINST WAR
September 27, 2001

September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City’s working
people.  We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors,
nationalities and religions--a thousand of them union members.  An estimated one
hundred thousand New Yorkers will lose their jobs.

We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished.  We are
proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor support for victims’ families.
We want justice for the dead and safety for the living.

And we believe that George Bush’s war is not the answer.

No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11.  Yet war will
inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen American alliances with
brutal dictatorships and deepen global poverty--just as the United States and
its allies have already inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in
such places as Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former
Yugoslavia and Latin America.

War will also take a heavy toll on us.  For Americans in uniform--the
overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color--it will be another
Vietnam.  It will generate further terror in this country against Arabs,
Muslims, South Asians, people of color and immigrants, and erode our
civil liberties.

It will redirect billions to the military and corporate executives, while
draining such essential domestic programs as education, health care and the
social security trust.  In New York City and elsewhere, it will be a pretext for
imposing “austerity” on labor and poor people under the guise of
“national unity.”

War will play into the hands of religious fanatics--from Osama bin Laden to
Jerry Falwell--and provoke further terrorism in major urban centers like New
York.

Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade unionists believe a
just and effective response to September 11 demands:


*NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes of
individuals--peace requires global social and economic justice.

*JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international tribunal to impartially
investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the September 11 attack.

*OPPOSITION TO RACISM—DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.  Stop terror, racial profiling
and legal restrictions against people of color and immigrants, and defend
democratic rights.

*AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid for the victims’ families
and displaced workers--not the wealthy.  Rebuild New York City with union labor,
union pay, and with special concern for new threats to worker health and safety.

*NO LABOR “AUSTERITY.”  The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working
and poor New Yorkers.  No surrender of workers’ living standards, programs or
other rights.

SIGNERS (List in formation: Rev. October 5, 2001 17:36)
ALL AFFILIATIONS AND TITLES LISTED FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY (UNLESS OTHERWISE
NOTED)

PRESIDENTS (9)
*Larry Adams, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300

*Barbara Bowen, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local 2334

*Arthur Cheliotes, CWA Local 1180

*Michael Letwin, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325

*Jill Levy, Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA), NYS Federation of
School Administrators, AFSA Local 1

*Maida Rosenstein, UAW Local 2110

*Joel Schwartz, CSEA Local 446, AFSCME

*Brenda Stokely, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707

*Jonathan Tasini, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981

OTHER MEMBERS (168)
*Jayma Abdoo, Joint Council Delegate, UAW Local 2110

*Ervand Abrahanian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Tristin Adie, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109

*Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199

*George Albro, Sec’y-Treasurer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Tom Anderson, Vice-Chairperson, OSA

*Anthony Arnove, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Sylvia Aron, Human Serv. Providers Adv. Cttee., NYC Central Labor Rehab.
Council; Past President, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter

*Stanley Aronowitz, University-Wide Officer & Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT
Local 2334

*Daniel Ashworth, Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Harold Bahr III, Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Ellen Baker, Assistant Professor of History, Columbia University; AAUP

*Thomas Barton, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37

*Nicholas K. Bedell, Grievance Representative, CWE/UFT

*Dorothee Benz, Communications Director, CWA Local 1180

*Carl Biers, Executive Director, AUD

*Peter Blum, Acting Vice-President/CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Robert Bomersbach, OSA

*Ian Brand, UNITE! Local 169

*Caroline N. Brown, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Bill Bradley, Delegate, SEIU Local 32B-J

*Renate Bridenthal, Chair, International Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Rachel Burd, labor consultant, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Chris Butters, AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37

*Barbara H. Chasin, officer, AFT Local 1904, Montclair State University

*A.B. Chitty, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334; USN 65-9 VN, 66-7 68, NY/VVAW

*Maria J. Chiu, JRD-Queens, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Kimberly Christensen, UUP

*Patricia Clough, Queens College Chapter Officer,  PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Antonia Codling, Chair, ACLA, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Hillel Cohen, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199

*Catherine Cook, Joint Council Delegate, UAW Local 2110

*Sandi E Cooper, Prof. of Hist., College of SI & Grad. Sch.-CUNY, frm. chair,
Univ. Fac. Senate; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Thelma C. Correll, SEIU Local 1199, Retirees Chapter Executive Cttee.; AUD Adv.
Bd.; PHANYC

*Lillian Cozzarelli, CWA Local 1180

*Claire Crosby, GSEU/UAW Local 2110

*Jackie DiSalvo, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Robert E. Dow, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Bryce Dowd, Organizer, SEIU Local 1199

*Steve Downs, Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Phyllis Eckhaus, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Madeleine M. Egger, CWA Local 1101

*Hester Eisenstein, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Toby Emmer, Director, UAW Region 9A Education Fund

*Hugh English, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Hillary Exter, LSSA/UAW Local 2320

*Samuel Farber, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Kate Fitzer, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Geoffrey Fox, NY Local Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Josh Fraidstern, TWU Local 100

*Richard W. Franke, Executive Board, AFT Local 1904, Montclair State University

*Lew Friedman, UFT

*Eric Fruman, AFT

*Nanette Funk, Brooklyn College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Pam Galpern, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101

*Gary Goff, Recording Sec’y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Marty Goodman, Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Winston A. Gordon, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Mark Grashow, former Chapter Chairperson, UFT

*Shirley Gray, Grievance Representative, OSA

*Mike Grimbel, AFSCME Local 375, DC 37; Delegate, NYC Central Labor Council

*George Gulifield, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Larry Hanley, City College Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Elon Harpaz, Delegate, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA Local 1180

*Lucy Herschel, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Society Chapter

*Ed Hilbrich, SSA/SEIU Local 693

*Carol Hochberg, Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Norman Hodgett, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37

*Nina Howes, RN, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199

*Dean Hubbard, union attorney, Labor & Employment Committee, National Steering
Committee, National Lawyers Guild

*Carolyn Hughes, UFT

*Lisa Jessup, Organizer, UAW Local 2110

*Christine Karatnytsky, Executive Board, New York Public Library Guild, AFSCME
Local 1930; Editor, Local 1930 Update

*Danny Katch, Teamsters Local 805

*Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Director, Queens College Worker Education Extension
Center; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*David Kazanjian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Dian Killian, Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Terry Klug, Sec’y-Treasurer, TWU Local 241

*Lisa Maya Knauer, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*John Korber, IWW-NYC; UFT

*Daniella Korotzer, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, Health & Safety
Representative, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Kitty Krupat, Bargaining Team, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*Ray Laforest, Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME

*Jane Latour, Dir., Women’s Proj., AUD; Man. Ed., Hardhat Mag.; NWU/UAW

Local 1981

*Tatiana Lemon, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Society Chapter

*Robert Lesko, Vice-President, AFT Local 3882

*Eileen A. McCann, Alternate Delegate, Civil-SI, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Patrick McCreery, GSOC/UAW Local 2110

*Miguel Maldonado, President, Immigrant Worker’s Association

*Julius Margolin, IATSE Local 52

*Barton Meyers, Chair, Grievance Policy Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Aaron Micheau, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Charlene Mitchell, Assistant to the President, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37

*Chuck Mohan, President, Guyanese-American Workers United; Staff Representative,
AFSCME DC 1707

*Charles Molesworth, Acting Chair, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local
2334

*Kim Moody, NWU/UAW Local 1981; Labor Notes Policy Committee

*Florence Morgan, CDD-Queens, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Susan Olivia Morris, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Amy Muldoon, CWA Local 1106

*Ken Nash, Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report in Exile

*Marcia Newfield, BMCC Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Catherine Newton, Alternate Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Daniel Nichols, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Matt Noyes, Education Coordinator, AUD; NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Tony O’Brien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Susan O’Malley, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Dennis O’Neil, Legislative Director, NY Metro Area Postal Union, APWU

*Richard L. Oeser, IATSE Local 52; Cornell Labor Studies; National Labor College

*Greg Pason, NJ Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*J.P. Patafio, New Directions Caucus & Executive Board, TWU Local 100

*Paul Peloquin, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Andy Piascik, Program Coordinator, AUD; NWU/UAW Local 1981

*John Pietaro, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Health Systems Division

*Pride at Work, NY

*Jim Provost, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Mike Quinn, High School Delegate, UFT

*Gloria E. Quiñones, former member, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Peter Ranis, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Shirley Rausher, BMCC Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Amie Ravitz, union labor attorney; former delegate and Executive Board,
LSSA/UAW 2320

*Dominic Renda, CWA Local 1105

*Sally Ridgeway, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter

*Cicely Rodway, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Adolph Reed, Jr. NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Nancy Romer, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Mimi Rosenberg, Delegate, Civil-BNO, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Andrew Rowe, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Cathy Ruckelshaus, Litigation Director, National Employment Law Project

*Trudy Rudnick, Organizer, AFT Local 3882

*Michael Ruscigno, IBT Local 802

*Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802

*Tim Schermerhorn, Vice President, RTO, TWU Local 100

*Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169

*Jason Schulman, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Wendy Scribner, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Hasan Shafiqullah, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Ryan Shanahan, JRD-Queens, 1199/SEIU, Legal Aid Society chapter

*George Snedeker, Disability Rights Committee, UUP

*Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320

*Joyce Soso, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Ann Sparanese, Shop Steward, RWDSU Local 29

*Claudette R. Spencer, CDD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Rob Spencer, Director of Media Services, OSA

*Michael Sullivan, Organizer, UNITE!

*Gibb Surette, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320

*Sean Sweeney, Director, Cornell Labor Studies

*Kyle Talbert, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*John Talbutt, AFSCME SSEU/Local 371, DC 37

*Terry Taylor, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice

*Steve Terry, Alternate Delegate, CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Miriam Thompson, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Azalia Torres, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Juliet Ucelli, UFT

*Mark Ungar, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334

*Lise Vogel, AAUP/CBC

*Marilyn Vogt-Downey, UFT

*Kit Wainer, UFT

*Michael Ware, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109

*Ron Washington, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice

*Steve Weiner, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37

*Edlyn Willer, Delegate, CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Corinne Willinger, PEF

*JoAnn Wypijewski, TNGNY/CWA

*Ethan Young, NWU/UAW Local 1981

*Naomi Zauderer, National Employment Law Project; UAW Local 2320 and UAW Local
1981

*Milton Zelermyer, Delegate, PRP, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

*Robert Zuss, Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325



GLOSSARY

AAUP.  American Association of University Professors

ACLA.  Attorneys of Color of Legal Aid

AFM. American Federation of Musicians

AFSA.  American Federation of School Administrators

AFT.  American Federation of Teachers

AFSCME.  American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

ALAA.  Association of Legal Aid Attorneys

APWU.  American Postal Workers Union

AUD. Association for Union Democracy

CAB.  Criminal Appeals Bureau, Legal Aid Society

CDD.  Criminal Defense Division, Legal Aid Society

CSEA. Civil Service Employees Association

CUNY.  City University of New York

CWA.  Communication Workers of America

CWE.  Consortium for Worker Education

GLTGC.  Gay, Lesbian, Trans-Gender Caucus

GSEU.  Graduate Student Employees United

GSOC.  Graduate Student Organizing Committee

IATSE.  International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

IBEW.  International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

IBT.  International Brotherhood of Teamsters

IWW.  Industrial Workers of the World

JRD.  Juvenile Rights Division, Legal Aid Society

LSSA.  Legal Services Staff Association

NWU.  National Writers Union

OSA. Office of Staff Analysts

PEF. Public Employees Federation

PRP.  Prisoners Rights Project, Legal Aid Society

PSC.  Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York

RWDSU.  Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union

SEIU.  Service Employees International Union

SSEU. Social Service Employees Union

TWU. Transport Workers Union

UAW.  United Auto Workers

UFT.  United Federation of Teachers

UNITE!  Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees

UUP.  United University Professions

VVAW.  Vietnam Veterans Against the War

From: "Julian Liu" <jliu@...>
Subject: FW: FACT SHEETS NOW AVAILABLE
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 10:20:51 -0400
The Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR) has produced two emergency
fact sheets that provide a summary of current conditions for the general
Afghan population and a brief history of Afghanistan, including the US' past
involvement. In addition, we are already in the process of working on two
more fact sheets 1) international legal alternatives to war and 2) key human
vulnerabilities (e.g. food availability, landmines, water, refugee/IDP
movement) in the event of a US attack. The first two fact sheets are
available on our website (www.cesr.org) in PDF, MS WORD and JPEG formats.
Please use and distribute widely. We hope you find them useful.

Julian Liu
Communications

Julian Liu
Center for Economic and Social Rights
Centro de Derechos Económicos y Sociales (EE.UU.)
162 Montague Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201 United States
Tel: 718.237.9145 x17
Fax: 718.237.9147
jliu@...
www.cesr.org



-----------------------------------------------
To respond to a post to the 911 list, make sure the recipient of your email
is 911@.... Do NOT use "reply" since that will send your
response to the original poster only.
-----------------------------------------------
To subscribe and unsubscribe to this list, use the form on the Brecht
Forum web site. http://www.brechtforum.org.

OWC CAMPAIGN NEWS - distributed by the Open World Conference in
Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights, c/o S.F. Labor
Council, 1188 Franklin St., #203, San Francisco, CA 94109.
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a message to <owc@...>.
Phone: (415) 641-8616 Fax: (415) 440-9297.
Visit out new website at <www.owcinfo.org>.
(Please excuse duplicate postings, and please feel free to re-post.)
-------------------

ACTION ALERT issued by CISPES/Mexico Solidarity Network/Campaign for Labor
Rights

Republicans Exploit Tragedy of Sept. 11th in Attempt to Pass Fast Track.
Call Congress and Tell Them to Vote No!

October 3, 2001

In the wake of the tragic attacks of September 11th, Republicans in Congress
and the Bush Administration are using the "war on terrorism" to pass Fast
Track (Trade Promotion Authority) legislation to move ahead their free trade
agenda. Massive pressure on the members of the House of Representatives is
needed immediately to stop this crass manipulation of the tragedy of
September 11th and defeat Fast Track legislation. We believe "another world
is possible" and must act now to stop Congress from granting Bush Fast Track
Authority.

Background:

The Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Bill Thomas (R-CA) wants to
jump start Fast Track trade legislation in the House. On September 25th
Thomas released a summary of a proposal for Fast Track entitled "a
Bipartisan Compromise". This proposal is basically the same right wing bill
(HR2149) introduced in the late spring by Rep. Phil Crane (R-IL). In a
"compromise", the Thomas legislation (HR3005) offers watered down language
on protecting workers' rights and the environment in any attempt to win over
the support of Democrats. Thomas' bill will be marked up (voted on in
committee) in the Ways and Means Committee on Friday, October 5th and for a
vote in the full House the week of October 8th.

Take Urgent Action, Call Congress Now:

Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-312. Ask the operator for your
Representative's office and then ask for the staff person who deals with
trade issues.

The AFL-CIO also has a toll free number, 1-800-393-1082 that you may use to
contact your Representative. Please give the AFL-CIO credit for using their
800 number.

Convey the following message to your Representative:

1-OPPOSE ALL FAST TRACK LEGISLATION.

Ask if the trade staff member has heard of Rep. Thomas' Fast Track bill
(HR3005). Tell the staff member that Thomas' legislation is similar to the
right wing Crane bill. Demand the Representative vote no on the Thomas bill
(HR3005) and any other form of Fast Track legislation that appears in
Congress. Express your outrage that Rep.Thomas is exploiting the tragedy of
September 11th to push through an undemocratic piece of legislation that
will facilitate the approval of free trade treaties like the Free Trade Area
of the Americans (FTAA).

2-SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO YOUR CALL. Be sure to speak with the staff
person who works on trade issues in you Representative's office. Do not
leave a message with the receptionist. Give the staff member your address
and ask to receive a written response to your call.

Talking points:

After September 11th, Republicans in Congress and members of the Bush
Administration have cynically taken advantage of the shock and grief in the
U.S. to try and pass Fast Track and move ahead their free trade agenda to
enrich big corporations and a small elite group of people. As part of a
right wing backlash that includes curtailing civil liberties and targeting
immigrants, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick insinuated that
opposition to the Bush Administration's pro-corporate agenda is unpatriotic
and in support of terrorism. More than that, he made veiled references that
equate the protestors of the anti-globalization movement to violent
terrorists. This is nothing more than an attempt to delegitimize and
demonize this growing movement which challenges the free trade,
pro-corporate agenda of the U.S. government and George Bush.

The passage of Fast Track will help facilitate the passage of free trade
treaties like FTAA and a proposed NAFTA style agreement between the U.S. and
Central America. Under such free trade treaties wages will go down, benefits
will be cut, public services (health, education, and water etc.) will be
privatized, and repression against workers demanding their rights be
respected will increase through out the Americas. People in Latin America
will be forced to risk their lives and try to emigrate to the U.S. in search
of work. Defeating Fast Track will make it harder for the passage of these
devastating and undemocratic free trade treaties.

Zoellick claims that passage of Fast Track is now a matter of national
security. He is quoted as saying, "today's enemies will learn that America
is the economic engine for freedom, opportunity, and development. To that
end, U.S. leadership in promoting international economic and trading systems
[that Fast Track would facilitate] is vital. Trade...promotes the values at
the heart of this protracted struggle." Zoellick contemplates a continuation
and harsher implementation of U.S. foreign policy of the last 60 years.

The passage of Fast Track would facilitate free trade treaties that create
more economic inequality. This would not create a more secure world, but one
that is more insecure -- a world where the continuation of U.S. sponsored
economic, political, and military policies will create conflict, misery, and
death for millions in the Americas.

How to reach us:

* Campaign for Labor Rights : e-mail: clrdc@...; phone: 202-544-9355 *
Mexico Solidarity Network: e-mail: msn@.../msndc@...;
phone 773-583-7728/212-544-9355 * CISPES: e-mail:
cispesnatl@...; phone: 212-465-8115

Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2001 00:08:40 -0400
From: Jonathan Bennett <jbennett@...>
Organization: New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health
X-Accept-Language: en,pdf
To: NYCOSH email list <nycosh_email_list@...>
Subject: NYCOSH Factsheet on Safe and Healthful Re-Occupancy of Workplaces
and Homes in the World Trade Center Vicinity

In response to a large number of questions from unions and workers about
potential safety and health hazards that might be encountered by workers and
residents who are returning to work-sites and homes in the vicinity of the
World Trade Center, NYCOSH has prepared a factsheet concerning these
matters:

      How Do I Know If My Building Is Safe?
      Structural Integrity
      Essential Services
      What Should My Employer or Landlord Do about Dust?
      What Should I Do about Dust?
      Dust May Be Hazardous to Your Health
      Proper Dust Clean-up
      Minimizing Dust after Cleanup
      Asbestos and other Toxic Substances
      Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Systems

If you are returning or have recently returned to a work-site or residence
in the vicinity of the World Trade Center, we suggest that you access the
factsheet at the homepage of the NYCOSH website at http://www.nycosh.org,
where a printer-friendly version of the factsheet is also posted.

Jonathan Bennett
Public Affairs Director, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and
Health
275 7th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10001
jbennett@...
Tel: 212-627-3900 ext. 14
Fax: 212-627-9812

Please visit our website: www.nycosh.org.
Subscribe to our free biweekly Update on Safety and Health by sending an
e-mail message to nycosh@...

NYCOSH is a non-profit provider of health-and-safety-related training,
information and advocacy, serving workers throughout the New York
metropolitan area, with a membership consisting of over
250 union organizations and 400 individuals -- union members, health and
safety activists, injured workers, healthcare workers, attorneys, public
health advocates, environmentalists and concerned citizens.

NYCOSH is a union shop. Its staff is represented by the Paper,
Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy workers union (PACE) Local 2-149.

From: "Marilyn Albert" <maralbert@...>
To: "LaborAgainstWar" <LaborAgainstWar@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Dennis Rivera on war
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 10:51:16 -0400

Friends,

Last night, at a Delegate Assembly of Local 1199/SEIU Dennis Rivera
reiterated the union leadership's opposition to a war in which innocent
people would suffer.

During a discussion on the current crisis, his exact words were, "Let me
repeat, the position of the leadership of our union is opposition to any war
against a nation because of the actions of a few ...but there must be some
kind of action to maintain our peace and security, and that is what we must
continue to discuss."

Marilyn Albert, RN
Local 1199/SEIU member
Beth Israel Medical Center

-----Original Message-----
From: ken nash [mailto:knash@...]
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2001 9:55 AM
To: ken nash
Subject: Help the Invisible Victims of the WTC Disaster


    Many people have asked me for the information about the relief funds for
two of the

    hardest hit groups of workers in the WTC disaster = the restaurant
workers and the

    service employees. Here they are.


> ========================
> Help the Invisible Victims of the WTC Disaster
>
> The Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union is
> urgently soliciting contributions for our relief fund for the victims
> of the New York disaster. At least 48 members of HERE Local 100 have been
> lost. They were working at the Windows on the World Restaurant at the
> top of the World Trade Center Building One on the morning of September 11.
> Eight hundred members of HERE Local 6 blessedly escaped from the
> Marriott Hotel at the base of the World Trade Center before it was
> destroyed. Those 800 workers, along with the surviving 220 members from
> the Windows on the World who were not at work that day, as well as
> thousands of other hotel and restaurant workers in New York, have lost
> their jobs, many permanently.
>
> We are desperately raising money for the families of the victims, and
> for workers whose jobs no longer exist.
>
> The fund is being structured as a tax-exempt fund under Section
> 501(c)(3)
> of the Internal Revenue Code. The name and address of the fund is:
>
> HERE New York Assistance Fund
> c/o HERE LOCAL 100

    321 W. 44 St. 5th fl

    New York , New York 10036

    For more information please call 212-541-4226x242


> On behalf of the New York victims, we will be eternally grateful for any
    support.
>
>
> ========================
>
> THE SEIU SEPTEMBER 11TH RELIEF FUND
>
> Thousands of janitors, security officers, and other workers in the World
> Trade Center and the Pentagon were among the thousands struck by tragedy
> on September 11.Thousands more are out of work because of damage to
buildings

    where they work.
>
> SEIU - the union many of those workers belonged to - has established a
> relief fund to provide immediate assistance to the workers and their
> families.
>
> To make a tax-deductible donation to the SEIU September 11th Relief
> Fund, please visit <https://secure-net.com/seiu/index.cfm>.


> By mail, send contributions made payable to:
   SEIU September 11th Relief Fund
   c/o SEIU
   1313 L Street, NW
   Washington, DC 20005
>

     If you or your organization have a Web site and would like to help
> spread the word, you can also post our Relief Fund banner, which is
> located at <http://www.seiu.org/political_action/getinvolved/banner.cfm>
>
> Thank you for your generous support of working people and their families
> in this painful time.
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> About the SEIU September 11th Relief Fund
>
> The SEIU September 11th Relief Fund is a separate fund of the SEIU
> Education and Support Fund, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The SEIU
> Education and Support Fund was established to provide education,
> training, and support to working families.
>
> The SEIU September 11th Relief Fund was set up to provide aid to workers
> and their families who were victims of the terrorist attack on the World
> Trade Center and the Pentagon.
>
> All contributions to the fund will be used to provide relief to the
> workers and families of workers who were affected by this tragedy.
> Reports on the fund's activities will be available through SEIU local
> unions and online at www.seiu.org <http://www.seiu.org>.
>
> Donations to the fund are not used for administrative costs of the
> Relief Fund. Contributions to the Relief Fund are tax-deductible.

A growing number of trade unionists from other locations have offered
to sign the NYC Labor Against War statement.  Rather than decline
this support, or rewrite and launch a duplicative national version, I
suggest we simply add "U.S." and "International" columns for those
unionists who voice solidarity with NYC workers by endorsing our
statement.  (This, of course, would not conflict with any other labor-
based statements.)

Please give your prompt feedback to this suggestion.

I greatly appreciate your sending this.  I wish to have it addressed
by our LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement)
Sacramento chapter, as well as members of my Union, CSEA/SEIU Local
1000 (Stateworkers).  I receive your emails regularly and never
bothered to thank you.  Well, I do want to say !Mil Gracias!
Please continue your important work.
Solidaridad Siempre,
Alex Garza, Board Member, LCLAA Sac
Member, CSEA/SEIU Local 1000 (Stateworkers)

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Goff [mailto:fmlink@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 9:12 PM
To: fmlink@...
Subject: Resolution I introduced

Crisis brings out the best and the worst in humanity.  People have
been doing all kinds of things to help following the attacks of
September 11.  They've worked tirelessly on the rescue and recovery
efforts, they've contributed generously to relief funds, and they've
given blood in unprecedented numbers.  In addition to these wonderful
selfless acts, there have been some awful things done by a hateful
few.  Arab-Americans, Muslims, South Asians, and others have been
subjected to a series of hate crimes in the last few weeks.  People
have been insulted, beaten, and even killed.  Mosques have been
firebombed.  Some, desperate for anyone to blame for the terrorist
attacks, have called for mass deportations and punitive restrictions
on future immigration.

None of this helps the people who died or serves justice.  All it
does is create additional innocent victims.  Racism is against
everything unions should stand for.  As union members - and simply as
caring human beings - we need to do everything we can to fight
against it.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney is among the many unionists who have
spoken out against these acts of  bigotry: "We must do everything we
can to prevent acts of prejudice against our fellow Americans based
on racial, ethnic or religious stereotypes.  This attack was a
terrorist attack, not an attack by any religious or ethnic group."

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, Local 2627 goes
on record opposed to the scapegoating of Arab-Americans, Muslims,
South Asians, immigrants, and others.  We call on our members and
others in the labor movement to continue donating blood, contributing
to disaster relief funds, and volunteering their services in any way
they think appropriate. And beyond this, if they hear people making
anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, or anti-immigrant remarks, we call on them to
speak out against this misdirected anger.

- This resolution was passed unanimously on 10/4/01 by the Executive
Board of Local 2627, DC 37, AFSCME  (NYC Electronic Data Processing
Personnel; over 3,000 members)

The current language and list of signers is attached.  Please RSVP
ASAP if you are able to attend tomorrow's labor press conference, as
discussed below.

Thanks!

---------------------------------------------

	 PRESS ADVISORY

	 For immediate release:  October 3, 2001
	 Contact:  Michael Letwin 212.343.0708 or Ray Laforest
212.219.0022

	 NYC LABOR AGAINST WAR

	 WHAT:   NYC labor press conference against war, and in
support of October 7 antiwar rally, 3 p.m., Union Square

	 TIME:   Thursday, October 4, 12 Noon.

	 PLACE:  Union Square, north side of 14 Street.

	 WHO:   Labor Against War, an ad hoc coalition in response to
the September 11 tragedy, supported by more than 100 union members
(in their individual capacity) in New York City, including the
following eight union presidents:  Larry Adams, National Postal Mail
Handlers Union Local 300; Barbara Bowen, Professional Staff Congress-
CUNY/AFT Local 2334; Arthur Cheliotes, Communication Workers of
America Local 1180; Michael Letwin, Association of Legal Aid
Attorneys/UAW Local 2325; Jill Levy, Council of Supervisors and
Administrators, NYS Federation of School Administrators, American
Federation of School Administrators Local 1; Maida Rosenstein, UAW
Local 2110; Brenda Stokely, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707; Jonathan
Tasini, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981.

	 PRINCIPLES:

	 •NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the
crimes of individuals—peace requires global social and economic
justice.

	 •JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international
tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those
responsible for the September 11 attack.

	 •OPPOSITION TO RACISM—DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.  Stop
terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of
color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

	 •AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid for the
victims' families and displaced workers—not the wealthy.  Rebuild New
York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for
new threats to worker health and safety.

	 •NO LABOR "AUSTERITY."  The cost of September 11 must not be
borne by working and poor New Yorkers.  No surrender of workers'
living standards, programs or other rights.

	 SEE FULL TEXT BELOW

				 -30-

			 New York City Labor Against War
			 September 27, 2001

	 September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York
City's working people.  We have lost friends, family members and
coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions—a thousand of
them union members.  An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers
will lose their jobs.

	 We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who
perished.  We are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor
support for victims' families.  We want justice for the dead and
safety for the living.

	 And we believe that George Bush's war is not the answer.

	 No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11.
Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen
American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global
poverty—just as the United States and its allies have already
inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in such places as
Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former
Yugoslavia and Latin America.

	 War will also take a heavy toll on us.  For Americans in
uniform—the overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of
color—it will be another Vietnam.  It will generate further terror in
this country against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color
and immigrants, and erode our civil liberties.

	 It will redirect billions to the military and corporate
executives, while draining such essential domestic programs as
education, health care and the social security trust.  In New York
City and elsewhere, it will be a pretext for imposing "austerity" on
labor and poor people under the guise of "national unity."

	 War will play into the hands of religious fanatics—from Osama
bin Laden to Jerry Falwell—and provoke further terrorism in major
urban centers like New York.

	 Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade
unionists believe a just and effective response to September 11
demands:

	 **NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the
crimes of individuals—peace requires global social and
economic justice.

	 **JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international
tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those
responsible for the September 11 attack.

	 **OPPOSITION TO RACISM—DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.  Stop
terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of
color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

	 **AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid for the
victims' families and displaced workers—not the wealthy.  Rebuild New
York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for
new threats to worker health and safety.

	 **NO LABOR "AUSTERITY."  The cost of September 11 must not be
borne by working and poor New Yorkers.  No surrender of workers'
living standards, programs or other rights.

Signers (list in formation)(All affiliations and titles listed for
identification only)

UNION PRESIDENTS
•Larry Adams, President, National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 300
•Barbara Bowen, President, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local
2334
•Arthur Cheliotes, President, CWA Local 1180
•Michael Letwin, President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW
Local 2325
•Jill Levy, President, Council of Supervisors and Administrators, NYS
Federation of School Administrators, American Federation of School
Administrators Local 1
•Maida Rosenstein, President, UAW Local 2110
•Brenda Stokely, President, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707
•Jonathan Tasini, President, National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981

OTHERS
•Ervand Abrahanian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Tristin Adie, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109
•Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199
•George Albro, Sec'y-Treasurer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Anthony Arnove, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Sylvia Aron, Human Services Providers Advisory Committee, NYC
Central Labor Rehabilitation Council; Past President, AAUP, Adelphi
Chapter
•Stanley Aronowitz, University-Wide Officer & Executive Council, PSC-
CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Daniel Ashworth, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Harold Bahr III, Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Thomas Barton, Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37
•Nicholas K. Bedell, Grievance Representative, CWE/UFT
•Dorothee Benz, Communications Director, CWA Local 1180
•Carl Biers, Executive Director, Association for Union Democracy
•Peter Blum, Acting Vice-President/CAB, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Ian Brand, UNITE! Local 169
•Caroline N. Brown, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Robert Bomersbach, Organization of Staff Analysts
•Bill Bradley, Delegate, SEIU Local 32B-J
•Renate Bridenthal, Chair, International Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT
Local 2334
•Rachel Burd, labor consultant, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Chris Butters, AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37
•Maria J. Chiu, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Kimberly Christensen, UUP
•Patricia Clough, Queens College Chapter Officer,  PSC-CUNY, AFT
Local 2334
•Antonia Codling, Chair, ACLA, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Hillel Cohen, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199
•Thelma C. Correll, SEIU Local 1199, Retirees Chapter Executive
Committee; Association for Union Democracy Advisory Bd.; PHANYC
•Jackie DiSalvo, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Claire Crosby, GSEU/UAW Local 2110
•Robert E. Dow, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Bryce Dowd, Organizer, SEIU Local 1199
•Steve Downs, Executive Board member, TWU Local 100
•Phyllis Eckhaus, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Madeleine M. Egger, CWA Local 1101
•Hester Eisenstein, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Hugh English, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Hillary Exter, LSSA/UAW Local 2320
•Samuel Farber, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Josh Fraidstern, TWU Local 100
•Lew Friedman, UFT
•Eric Fruman, AFT
•Nanette Funk, Brooklyn College Chapter, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Pam Galpern, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101
•Gary Goff, Recording Sec'y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Marty Goodman, Executive Board, TWU Local 100
•Winston A. Gordon, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Mark Grashow, former Chapter Chairperson, UFT
•George Gulifield, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Larry Hanley, City College Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Bill Henning, Vice-President, CWA Local 1180
•Lucy Herschel, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
•Ed Hilbrich, SSA/SEIU Local 693
•Carol Hochberg, Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Norman Hodgett, AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
•Nina Howes, RN, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199
•Carolyn Hughes, UFT
•Lisa Jessup, Organizer, UAW Local 2110
•Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Director, Queens College Worker Education
Extension Center; PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Christine Karatnytsky, Executive Board member, New York Public
Library Guild, AFSCME Local 1930; Editor, Local
1930 Update
•David Kazanjian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Dian Killian, Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Terry Klug, Sec'y-Treasurer, TWU Local 241
•Lisa Maya Knauer, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
•Daniella Korotzer, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, Health &
Safety Representative, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Kitty Krupat, Bargaining Team, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
•Ray Laforest, Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME
•Jane Latour, Director, Women's Project, Association for Union
Democracy; Managing Ed., Hardhat Magazine; NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Tatiana Lemon, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
•Robert Lesko, Vice-President, AFT Local 3882
•Eileen A. McCann, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Patrick McCreery, GSOC/UAW Local 2110
•Julius Margolin, IATSE Local 52
•Barton Meyers, Chair, Grievance Policy Committee, PSC-CUNY, AFT
Local 2334
•Aaron Micheau, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Charles Molesworth, Acting Chair, Queens College Chapter, PSC-CUNY,
AFT Local 2334
•Kim Moody, NWU/UAW Local 1981; Labor Notes Policy Committee
•Florence Morgan, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Susan Olivia Morris, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Amy Muldoon, CWA Local 1106
•Ken Nash, Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report in Exile
•Marcia Newfield, BMCC Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Daniel Nichols, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Matt Noyes, Education Coordinator, Association for Union Democracy;
NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Tony O'Brien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Susan O'Malley, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Charlene Mitchell, Assistant to the President, AFSCME Local 371, DC
37
•Chuck Mohan, President, Guyanese-American Workers United; Staff
Representative, AFSCME DC 1707
•Dennis O'Neil, Legislative Director, NY Metro Area Postal Union
(APWU)
•Richard L. Oeser, IATSE Local 52; Cornell Labor Studies; National
Labor College
•Greg Pason, NJ Steering Committee, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•J.P. Patafio, New Directions Caucus & Executive Board member, TWU
Local 100
•Paul Peloquin, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
•Andy Piascik, Program Coordinator, Association for Union Democracy;
NWU/UAW Local 1981
•John Pietaro, Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Health Systems Division
•Pride at Work, NY
•Jim Provost, LSSA/UAW 2320
•Mike Quinn, High School Delegate, UFT
•Peter Ranis, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Shirley Rausher, BMCC Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Dominic Renda, CWA Local 1105
•Sally Ridgeway, AAUP, Adelphi Chapter
•Cicely Rodway, Queens College Chapter Officer, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local
2334
•Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802
•Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169
•Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320
•Nancy Romer, Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Trudy Rudnick, Organizer, AFT Local 3882
•Wendy Scribner, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Hasan Shafiqullah, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Tim Schermerhorn, Vice President, RTO, TWU Local 100
•Joyce Soso, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Ann Sparanese, Shop Steward, RWDSU Local 29
•Claudette R. Spencer, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Gibb Surette, Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
•Sean Sweeney, Director, Cornell Labor Studies
•Kyle Talbert, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
•Terry Taylor, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
•Miriam Thompson, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Azalia Torres, Alternate Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local
2325
•Mark Ungar, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
•Lise Vogel, AAUP/CBC
•Marilyn Vogt-Downey, UFT
•Kit Wainer, UFT
•Michael Ware, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109
•Ron Washington, IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
•Edlyn Willer, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Corinne Willinger, PEF
•JoAnn Wypijewski, TNGNY/CWA
•Ethan Young, NWU/UAW Local 1981
•Milton Zelermyer, Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
•Robert Zuss, Vice-President/CDD-Brooklyn, ALAA/UAW Local 2325

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: October 7th - join us!
Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 22:29:08 -0400
From: Leslie Cagan <lesliecagan@...>
Reply-To: lesliecagan@...
To: lesliecagan@...

Please forgive duplicate postings - and please share with others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As the Pentagon gears up for their so-called new type of war, and as the
Justice Department pushes for new "anti-terrorism" laws which will cut
into our civil liberties, and as attacks on Arab-Americans and
Muslims and South Asians and other immigrants continue throughout the
country...it is time to make our voices heard.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th - 3:00 pm
Assemble at North Plaza of Union Square for a March and Rally
Interfaith Religious Service -  2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

Organized by a newly forming coalition of groups from diverse
communities and constituencies around New York City, we will gather
united in our rejection of war and racism... in our commitment to peace
and justice.

Our Grief is Not a Cry for War.

We are a city in mourning. To honor the lost lives and our own humanity,
we mourn with the mission of preventing further horrors. We condemn the
attacks of September 11th.  War is not the answer.

In the aftermath of this horror, we reject the acts of violence directed
against our Arab and Muslim neighbors. We reject all expressions of
racial, religious and ethnic bigotry and violence.

We come together in our commitment to a peaceful world, a peace built on
social and economic justice.

Our day will end with a candlelight vigil and ask that you bring candles
and matches. We are encouraged to wear white, a traditional color of
mourning and peace. Bring your banners and signs. Bring your families
and friends and neighbors and co-workers and fellow students!

For more information, contact 212-228-0450 or visit our web site at:
www.nynotinourname.org

Listserv Changes.  At numerous vigorous requests, the listserv is now
moderated, meaning that all messages will be screened for relevance
before being posted to others.

Press Conference.  Based on feedback, we have tentatively scheduled a
labor antiwar press conference for Thursday, 11 a.m., at Union
Square, for the purpose of presenting the statement and highlighting
October 7.  PLEASE REPLY ASAP WITH YOUR AVAILABILITY TO ATTEND.

Text Changes.  At the suggestion of Barbara Bowen (PSC-CUNY), Ray and
I suggest adding the language below (shown in uppercase) to the text
of the statement.  Please reply ASAP if you have any serious
objection.

	 New York City Labor Statement on September 11
	 September 27, 2001
	 September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York
City's working people.  We have lost friends, family members and
coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions—a thousand of
them union members.  An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers
will lose their jobs.
	 We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who
perished.  We are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor
support for victims' families.  We want justice for the dead and
safety for the living.
	 And we believe that George Bush's war is not the answer.
	 No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11.
Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen
American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global
poverty—just as the United States and its allies have already
inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in such places as
Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former
Yugoslavia and Latin America.
	 War will also take a heavy toll on us.  For Americans in
uniform—the overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of
color—it will be another Vietnam.  It will generate further terror in
this country against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color
and immigrants, and erode our civil liberties.
	 It will redirect billions to the military and corporate
executives, while draining such essential domestic programs as
education, health care and the social security trust.  IN NEW YORK
CITY AND ELSEWHERE, IT WILL BE A PRETEXT FOR IMPOSING "AUSTERITY" ON
LABOR AND POOR PEOPLE UNDER THE GUISE OF "NATIONAL UNITY."
	 War will play into the hands of religious fanatics—from Osama
bin Laden to Jerry Falwell—and provoke further terrorism in major
urban centers like New York.
	 •     •     •
	 Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade
unionists believe a just and effective response to September 11
demands:
	 **NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the
crimes of individuals—peace requires global social and economic
justice.
	 **JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international
tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try those
responsible for the September 11 attack.
	 **OPPOSITION TO RACISM—DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.  Stop
terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of
color and immigrants, and defend democratic rights.
	 **AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid for the
victims' families and displaced workers—not the wealthy.  Rebuild New
York City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for
new threats to worker health and safety.
	 **NO LABOR "AUSTERITY."  NO SURRENDER OF WORKERS' LIVING
STANDARDS, PROGRAMS OR OTHER RIGHTS.

THE SEIU SEPTEMBER 11TH RELIEF FUND

Thousands of janitors, security officers, and other workers in the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon were among the thousands struck by tragedy
on
September 11.

Thousands more are out of work because of damage to buildings where they
work.

SEIU - the union many of those workers belonged to - has established a
relief fund to provide immediate assistance to the workers and their
families.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the SEIU September 11th Relief
Fund,
please visit https://secure-net.com/seiu/index.cfm.

If you or your organization have a Web site and would like to help
spread
the word, you can also post our Relief Fund banner, which is located at
http://www.seiu.org/political_action/getinvolved/banner.cfm

Thank you for your generous support of working people and their families
in
this painful time.


-----------------------------------

About the SEIU September 11th Relief Fund

The SEIU September 11th Relief Fund is a separate fund of the SEIU
Education and Support Fund, a 501 (c)(3) organization.  The SEIU
Education
and Support Fund was established to provide education, training, and
support to working families.

The SEIU September 11th Relief Fund was set up to provide aid to workers
and their families who were victims of the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center and the Pentagon.

All contributions to the fund will be used to provide relief to the
workers
and families of workers who were affected by this tragedy.  Reports on
the
fund's activities will be available through SEIU local unions and online
at
www.seiu.org.

Donations to the fund are not used for administrative costs of the
Relief
Fund.  Contributions to the Relief Fund are tax-deductible.

The 1199 statement was presented by Dennis from the podium at a large,
emergency Delegates Mtg at the Apollo Theater  Sept 20th, but was not
distributed in written form. During discussion I made a motion that the
delegates endorse the statement presented and it passed by acclamation.
While I have not been able to get a written copy there were 4 main points:
a) denunciation of the Sept. 11th attack and rejection of terrorism as a
legitimate political tactic

b) call for the perpetrators of the Sept 11th attack to be brought to justice

c) recognition that the enemy in this attack cannot be identified as any
country, religion or ethnic group
d) rejection of war as an appropriate response to the attack

If I can get a transcript or more complete text I'll forward it to the list.

Hillel Cohen
Delegate, 1199 SEIU
At 09:58 PM 09/30/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi
>would you please send me the 1199 statement you referred to in your email
>below?
>thank you.
>
>ps have you seen the ny labor statement
>here it is:
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "portsideMod" <portsidemod@...>
>To: "portside" <portside@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 5:35 PM
>Subject: New York City labor statement on September 11
>
>
> > New York City Labor Statement on September 11
> > September 27, 2001
> >
> > September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New
> > York City's working people.  We have lost friends,
> > family members and coworkers of all colors,
> > nationalities and religions-a thousand of them union
> > members.  An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers
> > will lose their jobs.
> >
> > We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those
> > who perished.  We are proud of the rescuers and the
> > outpouring of labor support for victims' families.  We
> > want justice for the dead and safety for the living.
> >
> > And we believe that George Bush's war is not the
> > answer.
> >
> > No one should suffer what we experienced on September
> > 11. Yet war will inevitably harm countless innocent
> > civilians, strengthen American alliances with brutal
> > dictatorships and deepen global poverty-just as the
> > United States and its allies have already inflicted
> > widespread suffering on innocent people in such places
> > as Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories,
> > the former Yugoslavia and Latin America.
> >
> > War will also take a heavy toll on us.  For Americans
> > in uniform-the overwhelming number of whom are workers
> > and people of color-it will be another Vietnam.  It
> > will generate further terror in this country against
> > Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color and
> > immigrants, and erode our civil liberties.  It will
> > redirect billions to the military and corporate
> > executives, while draining such essential domestic
> > programs as education, health care and the social
> > security trust.
> >
> > War will play into the hands of religious fanatics-from
> > Osama bin Laden to Jerry Falwell-and provoke further
> > terrorism in major urban centers like New York.
> >
> >               .     .     .
> >
> > Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area
> > trade unionists believe a just and effective response
> > to September 11 demands:
> >
> > *NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people
> > for the crimes of individuals-peace requires global
> > social and economic justice.
> >
> > *JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international
> > tribunal to impartially investigate, apprehend and try
> > those responsible for the September 11 attack.
> >
> > *OPPOSITION TO RACISM-DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.
> > Stop terror, racial profiling and legal restrictions
> > against people of color and immigrants, and defend
> > democratic rights.
> >
> > *AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid
> > for the victims' families and displaced workers-not the
> > wealthy.  Rebuild New York City with union labor, union
> > pay, and with special concern for new threats to worker
> > health and safety.
> >
> > Signers (all affiliations listed for identification only)(list in
> > formation)
> >
> > Larry Adams,
> > President, NPMHU Local 300
> >
> > Barbara Bowen,
> > President, Professional Staff Congress-CUNY/AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Arthur Cheliotes,
> > President, CWA Local 1180
> >
> > Michael Letwin,
> > President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW
> > Local 2325
> >
> > Brenda Stokely,
> > President, AFSCME Local 215, DC 1707
> >
> > Marilyn Albert,
> > RN, SEIU Local 1199
> >
> > Sylvia Aron, Rehab Committee Co-Chair, NYC CLC & Past President,
> > AAUP, Adelphi Chapter
> >
> > Stanley Aronowitz,
> > University-Wide Officer & Executive Council, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Harold Bahr, III,
> > Chair, GLTGC, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
> >
> > Thomas Barton,
> > Shop Steward, AFSCME Local 768, DC 37
> >
> > Chris Butters,
> > AFSCME Local 1070, DC 37
> >
> > Hugh English,
> > PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Samuel Farber,
> > PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Pam Galpern,
> > Shop Steward, CWA Local 1101
> >
> > Gary Goff,
> > Recording Sec'y, AFSCME Local 2627, DC 37
> >
> > Bill Henning,
> > Vice-President, CWA Local 1180
> >
> > Lucy Herschel,
> > Delegate, SEIU Local 1199, Legal Aid Chapter
> >
> > Ed Hilbrich,
> > SSA/SEIU Local 693
> >
> > Carol Hochberg,
> > Vice-President/JRD, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
> >
> > Norman Hodgett,
> > AFSCME Local 371, DC 37
> >
> > David Kazanjian,
> > PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Dian Killian,
> > Organizer, Journalism Division, NWU/UAW Local 1981
> >
> > Lisa Maya Knauer,
> > GSOC/UAW Local 2110
> >
> > Ray LaForest,
> > Staff Representative, DC 1707, AFSCME
> >
> > Julius Margolin,
> > IATSE Local 52
> >
> > Florence Morgan,
> > ALAA/UAW 2325
> >
> > Matt Noyes,
> > Education Coordinator, AUD & NWU/UAW Local 1981
> >
> > Tony O'Brien,
> > Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Paul Peloquin,
> > Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
> >
> > Andy Piascik,
> > Program Coordinator, AUD & NWU/UAW Local 1981
> >
> > Carol Pittman,
> > Coordinator, Jobs With Justice/NYC Pride at Work, NY
> >
> > Mike Quinn,
> > High School Delegate, UFT
> >
> > Jay Schaffner,
> > Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802
> >
> > Jose Schiffino,
> > Organizer, UNITE! Local 169
> >
> > Soo Kyung Nam,
> > UAW Local 2320
> >
> > Gibb Surette,
> > Delegate, LSSA/UAW 2320
> >
> > Sean Sweeney,
> > Director, Cornell Labor Studies
> >
> > Terry Taylor,
> > IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
> >
> > Miriam Thompson,
> > PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
> >
> > Marilyn Vogt-Downey,
> > UFT
> >
> > Kit Wainer,
> > UFT
> >
> > Ron Washington,
> > IBEW Local 827, Black Telephone Workers For Justice
> >
> > Corinne Willinger,
> > PEF
> >
> > JoAnn Wypijenski,
> > TNGNY/CWA
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone.
> > http://phone.yahoo.com
> >
> >
> > portside (the left side in nautical parlance) is a
> > news, discussion and debate service of the Committees
> > of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. It
> > aims to provide varied material of interest to people
> > on the left.
> >
> > Post            : mail to 'portside@yahoogroups.com'
> > Subscribe       : mail to 'portside-subscribe@yahoogroups.com'
> > Unsubscribe     : mail to 'portside-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com'
> > List owner      : portside-owner@yahoogroups.com
> > Web address     : <http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/portside>
> > Digest mode     : visit Web site
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Michael Ware" <michael.ware@...>
>To: <LaborAgainstWar@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2001 9:28 PM
>Subject: [LaborAgainstWar] leafleting this week?
>
>
>Hey everybody,
>
>What do people think of doing some outreach to large, unionized workplaces
>for the Oct 7th demo?
>
>We could leaflet with a double-sided flyer 1199¹s statement and the demo
>flyer on the other side?  The Oct 7
>subcommittee should have a flyer out by now.
>
>We could also sign people on to the labor anti-war statement.
>
>Here are some ideas.
>--Bellevue Hospital (DC 37) 4pm
>--1199 hospitals/ worksites
>--Verizon office at Pearl Street (CWA) anytime btw 4:30-7pm
>--Harlem Hospital (420) 3:30-4:30pm
>--State Bldg, 125th St and AC Powell (DC 37, PEF?, CSEU) 5-6pm
>--a high school? (UFT) 3-4pm
>--a transit hub? (TWU)
>--suggestions?
>
>Obviously people are doing outreach within their own workplaces and officers
>can get some of their own union members to Oct. 7, but we need to broaden
>out where possible.  We also need to be safe and work in groups of 3 or
>more.
>
>I could help coordinate this but I would need some help since I don¹t work
>at an office.  I would also like to know what people think of the idea.
>
>Michael Ware
>CWA local 1109
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>LaborAgainstWar-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
>
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>LaborAgainstWar-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

Below is the finished NYC Labor Antiwar statement, which was reworked
following Sunday night's meeting of the antiwar coalition labor
outreach subcommittee.  (Note, however, that the statement is being
issued by its signers, not by the coalition).

The deadline to appear as an initial signer is this Sunday; please
circulate to other potential signers, both elected officers or rank-
and-file members, ASAP.  PLEASE INDICATE IF YOUR UNION POSITION
SHOULD BE MARKED "FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY."  (Please note that the
published statement may undergo minor nonsubstantive changes).

The labor subcommittee also agreed on the following:

1.  October 7 NYC March and Rally.  Mobilize union members to march
behind a labor banner ($165 was collected at the meeting), and ensure
that labor is adequately represented among the speakers.

2.  Speakers Bureau.  Create a list of unionists to speak at various
events.

3.  Interim coordinators.  Ray LaForest and Michael Letwin.

4.  Next meeting.  Weds., Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m., at the Association of
Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW 2325, 568 Broadway 702A (N/R to Prince, F/S
to Broadway-Lafayette, 6 to Spring).

----------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK CITY LABOR STATEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 11
September 27, 2001

September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City's
working people.  We have lost friends, family members and coworkers
of all colors, nationalities and religions—a thousand of them union
members.  An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers will lose
their jobs.

We condemn this crime against humanity and mourn those who perished.
We are proud of the rescuers and the outpouring of labor support for
victims' families.  We want justice for the dead and safety for the
living.

And we believe that George Bush's war is not the answer.

No one should suffer what we experienced on September 11.  Yet war
will inevitably harm countless innocent civilians, strengthen
American alliances with brutal dictatorships and deepen global
poverty—just as the United States and its allies have already
inflicted widespread suffering on innocent people in such places as
Iraq, Sudan, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the former
Yugoslavia and Latin America.

War will also take a heavy toll on us.  For Americans in uniform—the
overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of color—it will
be another Vietnam.  It will generate further terror in this country
against Arabs, Muslims, South Asians, people of color and immigrants,
and erode our civil liberties.  It will redirect billions to the
military and corporate executives, while draining such essential
domestic programs as education, health care and the social security
trust.

War will play into the hands of religious fanatics—from Osama bin
Laden to Jerry Falwell—and provoke further terrorism in major urban
centers like New York.

Therefore, the undersigned New York City metro-area trade unionists
believe a just and effective response to September 11 demands:

**NO WAR.  It is wrong to punish any nation or people for the crimes
of individuals—peace requires global social and economic justice.

**JUSTICE, NOT VENGEANCE.  An independent international tribunal to
impartially investigate, apprehend and try those responsible for the
September 11 attack.

**OPPOSITION TO RACISM & DEFENSE OF CIVIL LIBERTIES.  Stop terror,
racial profiling and legal restrictions against people of color and
immigrants, and defend democratic rights.

**AID FOR THE NEEDY, NOT THE GREEDY.  Government aid for the victims'
families and displaced workers—not the wealthy.  Rebuild New York
City with union labor, union pay, and with special concern for new
threats to worker health and safety.

Name:
Union/Position (indicate if "for identification only"):
E-mail:
Phone:

from: David McReynolds <DavidMcR@...>
To: "undisclosed-recipients:;"

This was sent me by a friend - it rings very true and gives a terrible
sense of reality to what it was like inside the building on the 11th.
. .
David


Dear All,

Now that I can begin to think clearly again, I would like to take the
time to thank each and every one of you for your concern of my well-
being. It was a very close call, and I am grateful to be alive.   As
you probably all know by now, I narrowly escaped from the World Trade
Center attack this past Tuesday, unlike the thousands who are still
trapped beneath the rubble.

At 8:48am on Tuesday morning, I was reading my e-mail like I do every
morning. I had just gotten off the phone with a traffic engineer at
the Port Authority regarding a file that I had transmitted to him on
the previous day. As I was finishing off my usual peanut butter and
jelly sandwich, I heard a loud explosion, which was immediately
followed by tremendous building sways and vibrations. As I was thrown
out of my chair, I immediately thought that this was an earthquake,
but still thinking rationally, I thought that it was abnormal since
there are no earthquakes in NYC, especially of this magnitude. I
remember thinking that the building felt like it was going to collapse
from this initial explosion.

As I picked myself up and ran to the emergency staircase located in
the core of the huge building, I saw through the east facing windows
debris and fireballs falling from the top of the building. The
building had stabilized by the time I reached the stairwell, and
evacuation had commenced quickly but calmly. Not knowing the gravity
of what was happening above us, people had started pouring into the
stairwell from the hallways of the different floors. I saw a coworker
from my floor (72nd), and we held and consoled each other.

There were no public announcements in the stairwell, but the
evacuation seemed to be going smoothly, there were no more explosions
as far as we could tell, no smoke coming up the stairwell, and the
building had stopped swaying. We all felt like we were out of imminent
danger. As we started to make it down the stairwell, people started
chatting and gathering their composures. I heard some people who had
been there in '93 telling others that this was a piece of cake since
the stairwell was dark and full of smoke in '93. Others were joking
about how Mr. Silverstein, who had just recently taken control of the
complex, must be fuming at what was happening. A few moments passed
and people began to receive messages over their pagers that a 767 had
accidentally hit our building. There was no mention of a terrorist
attack, and at no time was there any panic. Mobile phones were
completely out in the core of the building due to its immenseness and
the large distance from the core of the building to the exterior where
signals were usually stronger. There was no smoke at all in the
stairwell, but there was a strange peculiar smell, which I later
remembered it smelling like how it does when one boards an aircraft. I
later found out that this was jet fuel.

Soon we heard shouts from the people above us to keep to the right. I
started seeing blind people, those with difficulty moving, asthmatics
and injured people filing down to our left. People were burned so
badly that I won't go into describing it. People kept filing down
orderly and calmly, but stunned.

Sometime around the 30th or 40th floor, we passed the first
firefighters coming up the stairs. They reassured people that we were
safe and that we would all get out fine. By this point, they were
already absolutely breathless, but still pushing upward, slowly and
unyieldingly, one step at a time. I could only imagine how tired they
were, carrying their axes, hoses and heavy outfits and climbing up all
those stairs. Young men started offering the firemen to carry up their
gear for a few flights, but they all refused. EACH and EVERY ONE of
them. As I relive this moment over and over in my mind, I can't help
but think that these courageous firemen already knew in their minds
that they would not make it out of the building alive and that they
didn't not want to endanger any more civilians and prevent one less
person from making it to safety on the ground.

We continued down the stairwell, slowly and at times completely
stalled. The smell of jet fuel had gotten so unbearable that people
began covering their mouths and noses with anything that they could
find - ties, shirts, handkerchiefs. Every few floors, emergency crew
were passing out water and sodas from the vending machines that they
had split open from the hallways. I had no idea how much time had
passed by as I didn't have my mobile phone with me. Around the 20th or
15th floor, the emergency crew began diverting the people in our
stairwell to a different stairwell. They led us out of our stairwell,
across the hallway where I saw exhausted firemen and emergency crew
sitting on the floor trying to catch their breaths. I began to think
why? What's going on? This whole operation looked very confusing.
Nobody was giving us any indication as to what was going on. The wait
in the hallway to get to the other staircase was excruciatingly long
as we had to wait and merge with the people who were coming down the
staircase into which we were filing. Why had they diverted us? As we
started to get down to the lower floors, water started to pour down
from behind us. I figured that a water pipe had burst or that it was
water coming down from the rescue on the higher floors.

At this moment for the first time since the initial explosion, a sense
of panic began to grip me. Only floor 7, then 6. A few more to go, and
I would be free. I couldn't wait. It didn't matter that the water was
ankle deep. I was a few floors from the ground. Floor ,,,,4,,,,then
all of a sudden, a loud boom, and the building began to shake
unbearably again. People started falling down the stairwell as smoke
started to rise from the bottom. The emergency lights flickered and
then went out. The building was still shaking, and I could hear the
steel buckling.

Rescuers below us shouted for us to go back up the stairs. At this
moment, I was choking and shaking tremendously. I managed to climb
back up to the 6th or 7th floor and opened the door to that floor. The
water had already risen to my ankles, and the floor was completely
dark. A fireman led us with his flashlights to another staircase by
the voices of another fireman who was guiding him through the
darkness. We finally made it across that floor to the other stairwell
where we were greeted by the other fireman and told to hold. The look
on that fireman's face said it all. He said something under his lips
to our fireman indicating the severity of the situation.   With the
image of the firemen communicating to each other and hindsight, I
believe that the fireman had whispered to the other one that Building
Two had collapsed.

After a few minutes of huddling by the stairwell on the 6th floor, we
were given the green light to run for our lives. I made it down six
flights with a few other people and came out onto the mezzanine level
of our building. I don't know what I was expecting to see when I got
out of the stairwell, but I was not ready for this apocalyptic scene.
It was completely covered in white dust and smoke. My initial reaction
was that I couldn't believe that one plane, albeit a 767, 80 floors
above our head caused all this damage on the ground floor - inside. I
covered my head and ran towards the huge opening in the north side of
the building through which we were being evacuated. As I approached
this threshold, the firemen yelled to us to get over to the wall of
the building quickly.

Debris was still raining from all sides of the building. We could see
the other firefighters who were outside standing underneath the
cantilevered parts of the black immigration building (4 and/or 5 WTC).
At their cue, we ran from our building to the outside world and back
underneath the immigration building. I was completely disoriented,
coughing, and looking at the strange new landscape at the WTC plaza -
burning trees, wreckage, fireballs and dust, nothing short of a
nuclear winter. I climbed over huge pieces of steel wreckage and made
my way through to the skybridge leading to 7 WTC (building 3 to
collapse). From there, I descended the escalators down to the street
level onto Vesey Street and trotted to safety onto Church Street. I
immediately looked back and saw the charred remains of the upper
floors of my building. Smoke filled the sky, and I began to have this
eerie feeling that WTC 2 was not there. I couldn't be sure because of
all the smoke that was billowing from my building blowing eastward. As
I was trying to find WTC 2, I saw the unthinkable happen in front of
my eyes. WTC 1 began to disintegrate from where it was burning. I
turned around and ran.

I later learned that another 767 had hit WTC 2 around the floors where
sit in my building. I later learned that WTC 2 had collapsed when we
were still inside my building on the fourth floor when it began to
shake for a second time. I later learned that I had been spared from
the sight of people falling from the higher floors. I am grateful to
be alive and uninjured and to be able to share this life-changing
experience with you. And, I am so grateful for the courage of the
firemen and policemen who gave up their lives to help us down the
burning tower.

Taken from the current edition of Socialist Worker
http://www.socialistworker.org/378Pages/378_15_IssuesInLabor.shtml

ISSUES IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT
Why trade unionists should oppose the war

by LEE SUSTAR | September 28, 2001 | Page 15

THE AIR attacks of September 11 and the U.S. drive to military action
suddenly placed the issue of labor¹s role in wartime squarely in front of
unions.

All the major unions have expressed their horror at the attacks. And in New
York City, union members heroically risked--and too often lost--their lives
in the rescue efforts.

At the same time, labor leaders have pledged to support U.S. military
action. "We affirm our full support for American democratic values here and
around the globe, and we believe that those responsible, in any way, for
this heart-stopping horror must be dealt with," AFL-CIO President John
Sweeney said the day after the attack. "We will fully support the
appropriate American response."

Where Sweeney was vague, International Association of Machinists (IAM)
President Thomas Buffenbarger called for a military onslaught. "[IAM]
members will be prepping the planes that can just as easily carry troops to
the farthest reaches of the earth," he wrote. "They will be building the
F-15, F-16, F-18 and F-22s that will impose a new reality on those who have
dared attack us. For it is not simply justice we seek. It is vengeance, pure
and complete."

This warmongering is no surprise coming from Buffenbarger, who earlier this
year launched a scare-mongering PR campaign to support Bush¹s Star Wars
missile defense program.

But even union members who are critical of U.S. foreign policy and oppose
Bush will argue that the coming war is justified because of the attack on
the U.S.--and that it¹s time to "pull together as a nation."

Yet the employers wasted no time in showing just what "patriotism" and
"sacrifice" means to them. First, Congress voted for a $15 billion airline
industry bailout as the industry eliminated 100,000 jobs. At the same time,
Congress poured tens of billions into defense programs that would not have
prevented the September 11 attack.

And after years of insisting that the budget surplus couldn¹t be used on
social spending, Congress poured tens of billions into military spending
while declaring that Social Security would be cut.

Meanwhile, the potential for U.S. casualties--almost all of them
working-class people--will raise the question of who really gains from U.S.
wars.

Eugene V. Debs, the leading figure in the old Socialist Party founded a
century ago, argued that patriotism was a tool used by employers to convince
workers to kill--and be killed--in the interests of politicians and
employers.

In a speech in Canton, Ohio, in 1918 in opposition to the First World War,
Debs quoted the old saying that "patriotism is the last refuge of
scoundrels."

"They are continually talking about your patriotic duty," Debs said of the
employers, officials and the press. "It is not their but your patriotic duty
that they are concerned about. There is a decided difference. Their
patriotic duty never takes them to the firing line or chucks them into the
trenchesŠ

"In passing, I suggest that we stop a moment to think about the term
Œlandlord.¹ ŒLANDLORD!¹ Lord of the Land! The lord of the land is indeed a
superpatriot. This lord who practically owns the earth tells you that we are
fighting this war to make the world safe for democracy--he who shuts out all
humanity from his private domain; he who profiteers at the expense of the
people who have been slain and mutilated by multiplied thousands, under
pretense of being the great American patriot.

"It is he, this identical patriot who is in fact the arch-enemy of the
people; it is he that you need to wipe from power. It is he who is a far
greater menace to your liberty and your well-being than the Prussian Junkers
[German aristocrats] on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean."

Debs spent nearly three years in federal prison for making that speech--as
the result of a government crackdown on civil liberties during the war.

Those same issues face us today. And Debs¹ brilliant speech is just as
relevant as ever.

The full text of Debs¹ speech is available on the Web at
http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu/debs_a78.htm.

Below are antiwar statements adopted by the SFCLC and ILWU.  We hope
to have the final NYC labor statement available shortly.

OWC CAMPAIGN NEWS - distributed by the Open World Conference in
Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights, c/o S.F.
Labor Council, 1188 Franklin St., #203, San Francisco, CA 94109.
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a message to <owc@...>.
Phone: (415) 641-8616 Fax: (415) 440-9297.
Visit our website at <www.owcinfo.org>.
(Please excuse duplicate postings, and please feel free to re-post.)
-------------------

IN THIS MESSAGE:

1) San Francisco Labor Council Statement on the Tragic Events of
September 11, 2001 (adopted on Monday, Sept. 24, 2001)

2) San Francisco Labor Council Endorses September 29 Antiwar Rallies
(resolution adopted on Monday, Sept. 24, 2001)

3) Former ILWU President Brian McWilliams' Remarks on the Tragic
Events of September 11, 2001 (presented to the ILWU Pacific Coast
Pensioners Association Convention in Seattle, Wash., on September 18,
2001)

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

(1) S.F. LABOR COUNCIL STATEMENT ON THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER
11, 2001

[Note: The following statement was adopted by the S.F. Labor Council
at its delegates meeting on Monday, September 24, 2001. The statement
was submitted to the Labor Council by the Executive Board of OPEIU
Local 3. It was adopted following one friendly amendment from the
floor.]

The San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO) joins the nation and the
world in mourning the devastating loss of life resulting from the
vicious attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well
as the crashed plane in Pennsylvania. We condemn the criminality of
those attacks and those responsible.

Many of those killed were union members and other workers killed on
the job. Our hearts go out to our sisters and brothers and their
loved ones. We particularly honor the rescue workers who continue to
risk their lives to save others.

No one, in this country or any other, should suffer the fate of the
victims in these attacks. We demand that the perpetrators of these
crimes be brought to justice. The United States has a responsibility
to establish with irrefutable facts the identity of those who were
behind these attacks. The tragic attacks of September 11 should be
treated as a heinous crime rather than an act of war.

As we mourn this tremendous loss of life, we declare our resistance
to efforts to use this tragedy to engage in military actions that can
lead only to more carnage and senseless loss of life. We reject the
idea that entire nations should be punished for the actions of a few.
Bombing raids and military strikes will only fuel an endless cycle of
revenge that can only bring the deaths of more innocent civilians,
both here and around the world.

In the face of such sorrow, we urge all people, particularly members
of the labor family, to stand united against prejudice, hatred and
intolerance wherever it arises. Within our own borders, we call upon
all in our communities to join us in immediately confronting any anti-
Arab, anti-Muslim, anti-Sikh or other anti-immigrant hate speech or
acts of violence, whether in our neighborhoods, our workplaces, or in
the media. We strongly oppose efforts to curtail the rights of
immigrants and refugees, including expulsion of suspect foreign
nationals without due process.

We also declare our resistance to efforts to use this tragedy to
curtail our civil liberties. Militarization of our society inevitably
leads to erosion of civil liberties and workers' rights. We must
remain vigilant in the defense of our democratic principles,
including the protection of our civil liberties. Already proposals
have been put forward to allow increased federal surveillance of
private activities, and there is a strong push for greater use of
racial profiling. In the past, national security has often been used
to justify interference with our rights to freedom of association, to
organize, to strike and to picket. We must redouble our efforts to
fight for justice, and must not allow those who oppose our goals to
use a national crisis as an excuse to assault our civil and economic
rights.

We encourage open discussion as to the origins of this crisis and the
most appropriate response to the atrocities that have taken place -
particularly about the need for a foreign policy that is based on
economic and political justice.

A century ago, Samuel Gompers, first President of the AFL, said that
labor wants more justice and less revenge. Our greatest memorial to
our fallen sisters and brothers will be a world of peace, justice,
tolerance and understanding, underscored by the solidarity of working
people.

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

2) San Francisco Labor Council Endorses September 29 Antiwar Rallies

[Note: The following resolution was adopted by the S.F. Labor Council
at its delegates meeting on Monday, September 24, 2001. The
resolution was submitted by NALC delegate Dave Welsh.]

Resolved: That the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO, endorse the
mass anti-war rallies scheduled for Saturday, September 29, 2001, at
the White House in Washington, D.C., and in San Francisco and Los
Angeles, joining community leaders, the Rev. Cecil Williams and
family members of those who perished, to a) Mourn the victims; b)
Stand together with our brothers and sisters who are victims of
violence and scapegoating; c) Defend our civil liberties and stop the
drive toward war in the Middle East -- under the banner "War and
Racism are not the Answer."

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

3) Former ILWU President Brian McWilliams Speaks Out on the Tragic
Events of September 11

[Note: Following are the remarks presented by former ILWU President
Brian McWilliams to the morning session of the 2001 ILWU Pacific
Coast Pensioners Association Convention in Seattle, Wash., on
September 18, 2001. Brother McWilliams is a member of the Executive
Board of the San Francisco Labor Council. He was a keynote speaker at
both the Western Hemisphere Workers Conference in November 1997 and
the Open World Conference in February 2000.]

Thank you for the opportunity to share this time with you. It warms
my heart to see so many of my old friends. Of course, you know that
I'm no longer involved in developing policy for our union, but I
would like to talk with you about the recent events that are so
troubling for all of us and how we respond as workers.

First, we must condemn the senseless acts of violence perpetrated
against innocent people, just like we have throughout history. And
the perpetrators need to be sought out and brought to justice.

But let us not be too quick to judge the terroristic acts of others
without taking a thorough look at our government's acts of
aggression, passive and otherwise, against our fellow citizens of the
world. Issues of sufficient importance for this union to make strong
policy statements about for the simple fact that, by any standards,
they constitute violent acts against workers and could only be seen
as terrorist acts by most of those on the receiving end.

We have challenged regularly the wisdom of the U.S. government
policies resulting in the Cuban blockade, Korea, Iraq, Vietnam, El
Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile - where CIA involvement in the
assassination of their democratically elected leader fell on the same
day, September 11, as last week's bombing.

Apartheid in South Africa, racial profiling, racism and poverty in
our own country all induce terror in those on the receiving end. Not
to compare these acts with what just happened in NY, but to realize
that there is a tremendous amount of suffering brought upon people,
and as long as people have to suffer the consequences of these acts
of aggression, the more hurt and anger will be left steeping in their
hearts.

And if we can't, as a nation, see the wisdom in following the road to
peace, one of the first victims of a heightened militarism will be
our civil liberties. It is our job to guard against national security
programs being used as an excuse to exploit working people. It's not
hard to imagine that new laws will threaten to curtail union
organizing, picket lines, and public gatherings, while surveillance
of citizens, racial profiling, and union busting go unchecked.

Peace must be our goal if people on the bottom are not to pay the
highest price. We can start towards achieving peace by being peaceful.

And an even greater threat than losing our civil liberties is the
potential for us to fall victim to the intolerances of internalized
bias. Of course, we will continue to fight against the misled
patriotism of ignorance that pits us as workers against each other.
And remember that racism is not patriotic in any situation. What a
tragedy the indiscriminate targeting of Americans has become, yet
another form of terrorism, perpetrated by Americans on Americans.

Blind belief in the tenets of a government and all of its actions
without any critical thinking is mistaken by many as patriotism. In
truth that diminishes us as a people and leads to the kinds of
ignorant and blatantly racist and violent acts and military
aggression we are beginning to read about in the papers.

This must be stopped. That innocent American working families are the
target of hate crimes and discrimination in any form has always been
condemned by this ILWU.

But that is not enough. Each of us must help carry the torch of
justice and tolerance and peace, and clearly and aggressively respond
to such injustices wherever they may be in a way that truly
represents our philosophy that an injury to one is an injury to all.

To get a .pdf copy of the NLG's Know Your Rights pamphlet discussed
below, please contact:  hillaryexter@...

Attached in Pdf Format is a Know your Rights! pamphlet put out by the
National Lawyers Guild (NLG), which provides useful information on
issues such as what to do if a government agent comes to question
you, including rights of non-citizens. It may be useful to include in
your resource package. The pamplet may also be accessed via the NLG
website: nlg.org; then click on Statements, protest info, news,
legislation, etc. under the The Crisis in New York--Attacks on the
WTC; Then under Resources, the Know Your Rights Pamplet--NLG
I'm working with the neighborhood outreach committee of the emerging
NYC anti-war, anti-racist coalition. Let us know when/what
neighborhoods you'll be doing postering in and we'll see how we can
help. Let us know if groups you're in contact with are planning any
educational or other events around the issues, too.
Also, do you have a press list of immigrant group, ethnic presses in
NYC? We're hoping to encourage people to get letters to the editor,
etc. to local papers.
Best regards