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2008
Strategic Priorities
and Plan
From November 30 to December 2, 2007,
the USLAW Steering Committee met in Chicago to discuss and adopt the plan of
work that will guide the work of the organization in 2008.What follows is a brief summary of key
decisions.
Political Objectives:
- Compel Congress to defund the war and bring all troops home now,
funding only their safe return, their care upon return, and reparations and
reconstruction in Iraq. Redirect
spending to serve human needs and to promote peace and justice at home and
abroad.
- Strengthen activity in opposition to the war and occupation at every
level of the labor movement.
- Further develop USLAW solidarity with Iraqi unions and allied
organizations.
- Expand education in the labor movement to expose the consequences for
working people of a foreign policy that serves the interests of corporations
and the military instead of the people.
- Oppose military action and subversion in Iran.
- Encourage labor movement solidarity with all the working people of the
Middle East, in particular Palestinians and Israelis.
Focus and Priorities:
2008 Elections
- Demand that all candidates
explain their stand on immediate withdrawal from Iraq, return of all troops and
contractors, defunding military action and closing all US bases there, and
reordering national priorities to serve human needs, peace & justice, and
fully fund care of veterans and reparations for Iraqis.
- Get State Labor Federations and
other union conventions to call on candidates to support the USLAW demands.
- Organize “Truth Squads” that
attend candidate events to ascertain and challenge their positions, then
publicize their responses.
- Organize voter education events
and activities and utilize the “Economy that Works for All” slide presentation
to explain the impact and cost of the occupation and “war on terror” for
working class families and communities.
International
Solidarity and Labor/Human Rights
- Connect the fight for labor law
reform in the U.S. with the struggle for labor rights in Iraq.
- Working with Iraqi unions,
develop a global campaign for labor rights and implementation of the ILO
conventions in Iraq.
- Increase efforts to prevent
privatization of Iraqi oil.
- Continue work of Mideast Peace
Task Force in developing plan and materials to encourage labor movement
discussion on the crisis in Palestine/Israel and its resolution, and to promote
greater solidarity with all workers in the region.
Congressional
Pressure and Legislation
- Increase pressure on Congress to
defund the occupation and “war on terrorism,” force withdrawal of all military
forces and contractors, close all bases, cut the military budget and spend
national resources to meet human needs; demilitarize the economy.
Build
Opposition to Occupation and Militarism
- Increase participation in antiwar
protest activities endorsed/supported by USLAW and its allies by labor
organizations, their members and families.
- Expand USLAW’s working
relationship with organizations of veterans and military families and build a
network of union members who are vets or in military families.Support the “Winter Soldier Hearings”
sponsored by Iraq Veterans Against the War in Washington, DC in March.
Build and Support USLAW
- Launch a campaign by USLAW affiliates to sign their members up as
associate members of USLAW
- Increase levels of financial support by affiliates through affiliation
fees and direct appeals to their members for contributions and monthly
sustainers.
- Expand members exposure to USLAW through articles in newsletters,
display ads in union publications, links on websites, reports to members on
USLAW activities, discussion at union meetings and events, and circulation of
USLAW literature.
- Involve affiliates and associate members in recruiting new affiliates
from within their national union, state and regional bodies and central labor
councils.
- Publicly identifyaffiliation with USLAW on the literature and
publications of each affiliate.
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