Posted by on October 04, 2001 at 14:04:06:
Press Advisory
For immediate release: October 3, 2001
Contact: Michael Letwin 212.343.0708 or Ray Laforest 212.219.0022
NYC LABOR GROUP OPPOSES WAR
WHAT: NYC labor press conference against war.
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 individualsópeace 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 RACISMóDEFENSE 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 victimsí families and displaced workersónot 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 ìAUSTERITY.î The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working and poor New Yorkers. No surrender of workersí living standards, programs or other rights.
FULL TEXT AND SIGNATURE LIST BELOW
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New York City Labor Against War
September 27, 2001
September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York Cityís working people. We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religionsóa 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 victimsí families. We want justice for the dead and safety for the living.
And we believe that George Bushís 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 povertyójust 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 uniformóthe overwhelming number of whom are workers and people of coloróit 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 ìausterityî on labor and poor people under the guise of ìnational unity.î
War will play into the hands of religious fanaticsófrom Osama bin Laden to Jerry Falwellóand 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 individualsópeace 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 RACISMóDEFENSE 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 victimsí families and displaced workersónot 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 ìAUSTERITY.î The cost of September 11 must not be borne by working and poor New Yorkers. No surrender of workersí 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
OTHER UNION MEMBERS
Ervand Abrahanian, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Tristin Adie, Shop Steward, CWA Local 1109
Marilyn Albert, RN, SEIU Local 1199
George Albro, Secíy-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 Secíy, 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, Secíy-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, Womenís 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 OíBrien, Delegate, PSC-CUNY, AFT Local 2334
Susan OíMalley, 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 OíNeil, 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
Andrew Rowe, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
Jay Schaffner, Supervisor, National Contracts Dept., AFM Local 802
Jose Schiffino, Organizer, UNITE! Local 169
Soo Kyung Nam, UAW Local 2320
Adolph Reed, Jr. NWU/UAW Local 1981
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
Steve Terry, Alternate Delegate, ALAA/UAW Local 2325
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