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US West Coast dockers:
1st May Workers Action to Stop the War
ILWU
26 Feb 08

ILWU letter to AFL-CIO Pres. John J. Sweeney

M/S/C as amended
FOR WORKERS’ ACTION TO STOP THE WAR

WHEREAS: On May 1, 2003, at the ILWU Convention in San Francisco resolutions were passed calling for an end to the war and occupation in Iraq; and

WHEREAS: ILWU took the lead among labor unions in opposing this bloody war and occupation for imperial domination; and

WHEREAS: Many unions and the overwhelming majority of the American people now oppose this bipartisan and unjustifiable war in Iraq and Afghanistan but the two major political parties, Democrats and Republicans continue to fund the war; and

WHEREAS: Millions worldwide have marched and demonstrated against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but have been unable to stop the wars; and

WHEREAS: ILWU’s historic dock actions,

1) like the refusal of Local 10 longshoremen to load bombs for the military dictatorship in Chile in 1978 and military cargo to the Salvadoran military dictatorship in 1981 and

2) the honoring of the teachers’ union antiwar picket May 19, 2007 against SSA in the port of Oakland stand as a limited but shining example of how to oppose these wars; and

WHEREAS: The spread of war in the Middle East is threatened with U. S. air strikes in Iran or possible military intervention in Syria or the destabilized Pakistan;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That it is time to take labor’s protest to a more powerful level of struggle by calling on unions and working people in the U. S. and internationally to mobilize for a “No Peace No Work Holiday” May 1, 2008 for 8 hours to demand an immediate end to the war and occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the withdrawal of U. S. troops from the Middle East; and

FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED:

That a clarion call from the ILWU be sent with an urgent appeal for unity of action to the AFL-CIO, the Change to Win Coalition and all of the international labor organizations to which we are affiliated to bring an end to this bloody war once and for all.

Submitted by:

ILWU Local 10

passed overwhelmingly after thorough debate

If you need any further information or wish to send messages of support and solidarity please contact Bob McEllrath, International President, ILWU, 1188 Franklin Street, San Francisco, California 94109.

Tel: (+1 415) 775 0533 Fax: (+1 415) 775 1302. Email: robert.mcellrath [at] ilwu.org

Messages of support and solidarity should also be sent to ILWU Local 10 President Melvin Mackay
fax (+1 415) 441 0610 and/or melmackay [at] aol.com

I am sending my deepest thoughts of solidarity to the brave men and women who dare to put their feet down like this. Bless you, and good luck. Let's hope that Bush and his henchmen don't use the Taft-Hartley act to crush this positive action for peace.

Huge, HUGE levels of respect and admiration from Sweden,

Magnus

PS. Read a full article here. DS.
 

kmb117:

We don't have a cure for cancer but we've got 16 million different versions of the Lord of the Rings. What. The. Fuck.

Hi!  Thank you so much for posting that.  I hadn't ever read their original resolution.  Though this isn't my union, it's on for me.  I appreciate the heads up.

 D. 

It’s been a long time coming, but I think we Methodists are finally beginning to speak out about the BUSH WAR. Look at this!!!

Whereas, the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, meeting Nov. 9, 2007 at Lake Junaluska, N.C., is committed to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world; and

Whereas, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, calls his followers to be peacemakers (Matt. 5:9); and

Whereas, "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ" (Book of Discipline 2004, Par. 165.C); and

Whereas, the cost of the war in Iraq as of Nov. 7, 2007 has been the lives of 3,843 members of the U.S. military, 171 members of the United Kingdom military, 132 members of the other Coalition military, 28,385 U.S. military wounded, and the lives of at least 76,241 Iraqi civilians; and

Whereas the war in Iraq has displaced 2 million persons and forced another 2 million persons into refugee status;

Whereas, every day the war continues more soldiers and innocent civilians are killed with no end in sight to the violence, bloodshed and carnage;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS calls on the President and Congress of the United States and the leaders of all the nations in the Coalition Forces:

To begin immediately a safe and full withdrawal of all military personnel from Iraq, with no additional troops deployed;

To declare that there will be no permanent military bases in Iraq;

To increase support for veterans of the Iraq war and all wars;

To initiate and give strong support to a plan for the reconstruction of Iraq, with high priority given to the humanitarian and social needs of the Iraqi people, such as healthcare, education and housing;

FURTHER, THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS calls United Methodist people throughout the world:

To pray for peace and to have regular prayer vigils for congregations and communities;

To care for all impacted by the war, including combatants and noncombatants by honoring the dead, healing the wounded and calling for the end of the war;

To be peacemakers by word and deed that we may be called the children of God.

Here is another Methodist resolution!!

  Peace in Iraq

Adopted by The United Methodist Church 2008 General Conference

Adopted April 30, 2008

The prophet Micah reminds us that God calls nations to “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks,” and that nations will no longer “lift up sword against nation, and neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Micah 4:3)

The war in Iraq must end. It is a tragedy that wounds the heart of God. Thousands of lives have been lost, millions of Iraqis have fled their country, and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in a war the United States initiated and never should have fought.

A bipartisan U.S. commission appointed by President Bush chaired by former Gov. Tom Keane and former Rep. Lee Hamilton established that:

As people of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, we pray for peace, stability and freedom in Iraq. We believe the Iraqi people can and should ultimately determine how it will be achieved. It is time for the United States to end the conflict and withdraw U.S. troops, to discontinue waging war and to seek a peaceful political solution in concert with the international community.

In recognition of the Church’s responsibility to work for peace, The General Conference of The United Methodist Church calls upon the U.S. government to:

1. End the cycle of violence in Iraq by developing and implementing a plan for the immediate and safe withdrawal of U.S. and partner coalition troops from the country.
2. Work with Iraqis of good will, the United Nations and other nations in the Middle East to bring about a peaceful, long-term resolution to the conflict and rebuild Iraq.
3. Commit U.S. funds for the rebuilding of Iraq through a plan that honors the participation of the Iraqis and gives them hope for their future.
4. Provide adequate funding for U.S. military personnel returning from Iraq and their families.

We urge United Methodists throughout the world to pray for an immediate end to the war in Iraq and to speak out for public policies that promote peace, justice and reconciliation.

Adopted April 30, 2008

JohnFromBama:

It’s been a long time coming, but I think we Methodists are finally beginning to speak out about the BUSH WAR.

Better late than never. Now, we have (among others) the dockworkers, the Methodists, the Dixie Chicks and Steve Earle plus about 90% of the population in Europe. Do you think the U.S. administration will get the hint?

kmb117:

We don't have a cure for cancer but we've got 16 million different versions of the Lord of the Rings. What. The. Fuck.

just my personal taste, but i can't stand the Dixie Chicks, they are, as all of us, welcome to their beliefs, but they have always come across as pretensious and condesending to me...i know most of that is mispelled, is saw them about 5 years ago in Minneapolis, i liked them better then, but after the show felt kinda down...

anyway...

but, you know I love Steve Earle!!!

thanks though, John, for your post...been to your lovely part of the world many times in my growing up years..

missintexas:

just my personal taste, but i can't stand the Dixie Chicks, they are, as all of us, welcome to their beliefs, but they have always come across as pretensious and condesending to me...

Most women with strong opinions come across that way. Male oriented society has that effect. Compared to how Steve puts across his opinions, the Chix are true diplomats.
 

hello friend kyle....

you are most likely correct.....

besides, i can excuse Steve for anything because he is so cute...

ha!!!  is that shallow or what????

okay, back to the laundry...

 Three naked chicks for my fellow males (and any females that may bat for their own team). =)
 

kmb117:

We don't have a cure for cancer but we've got 16 million different versions of the Lord of the Rings. What. The. Fuck.