Posted by on October 09, 2001 at 20:27:37:
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.
Contact: Andy Tuck (202) 842-3100