eating to raise funds to benefit U.S. Labor Against the War. (But if you
don't live in the D.C. area, don't worry, you can contribute too!) Right
now we must either raise significant money or stop paying our 2.5 staff
and risk the demise of USLAW. Please join us!
When: Saturday, October 16th at 7:00 p.m.
Where: 240 Park Ave., Takoma Park, Maryland 20912
The event will feature a showing and discussion of the DVD "Why Are We
in Afghanistan?"
Recently the news has been full of platitudes and simplistic analyses
about the US troops leaving Iraq. Commentators insist on seeing this as
a successful war, despite the many lives lost and many more traumatized,
the trillion-plus dollars wasted and the massive death and suffering so
many have endured.
Meanwhile we plunge deeper into the disastrous war in Afghanistan at a
moment when the domestic economy desperately needs the dollars
squandered there.
The creation of US Labor Against the War has been one positive
development during these seven years. We have brought the anti-war
movement into the labor movement, brought the labor movement into the
anti-war movement and provided substantial support for the courageous
Iraqi unions struggling to survive.
YET AT THIS VERY MOMENT, USLAW FINDS ITSELF IN A SERIOUS FINANCIAL CRISIS.
We don't think anyone would have imagined in January 2003, when USLAW
was founded in a Teamster Hall in Chicago, that it would still be
functioning seven years later with 190+ affiliated unions and other
labor organizations -- local, regional and national.
Those of you who have helped make USLAW a success have made a
difference, a historical one, in terms of labor's view of the war and in
terms of international solidarity we have provided. We need to continue
this work, to increase the focus on Afghanistan, and to make sure that
the Iraq of the future includes the right of Iraqi workers to organize
unions.
From its founding until today, USLAW has relied predominantly on the
labor movement for its financial support - on its affiliates, individual
members and supporters like you. As the economy has gone deeper into
crisis, the sources of USLAW's income took a big economic hit. Unions
lost members, workers lost jobs, incomes of many declined. The result is
predictable - unions, union members, and other supporters cut back their
contributions to USLAW and other worthy social justice organizations.
USLAW has made some significant headway recently in getting the war in
Afghanistan on labor's agenda - with anti-war resolutions passed at the
International conventions of the AFL-CIO, AFT, CWA, UE, CLUW and ILWU -
as well as putting the issue on the table of local unions and central
labor councils.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi unions have turned to us for support again because
they are under the harshest attack they have experienced since the
invasion—arrests, criminal charges, office raids, threats and more -- as
they are seen as the key stumbling block to privatization of oil,
electricity and basic industry. They refuse to stop organizing, and they
continue to reach out for international support—in short, they won't be
silenced.
We have moved a letter through Congress to President al-Maliki and
helped move a letter from Trumka to al-Maliki on their behalf urging the
adoption of a labor law.
The leaders being attacked are those many of you have met in their
solidarity visits to the US: Hashmeya Mushsin, the woman president of
the Electricity Workers Union; Hassan Juma'a, the president of the Iraqi
Federation of Oil Unions, and Falah Alwan, the president of the
Federation of Workers Councils.
We are recommending a contribution of $100 for those that can afford it.
Of course, anyone who wants to contribute more, or less, will be most
welcome. If you can't come, please send a contribution to: USLAW, 1718 M
Street, N.W., PMB 153, Washington, D.C. 20036 and note in the memo
section it is for the fundraiser.
Contributors of $100 or more will receive a copy of a gorgeous original
poster from the historic March 2009 Erbil, Iraq Solidarity Conference
that USLAW helped to organize.
If you have questions feel free to call me on my cell at 202-669-1443 or
202-320-5588.
Please RSVP at nancywohlforth@gmail.com or denicelombard@comcast.net.
The future of USLAW is at stake, and I appeal to you as never before to
contribute as much as you can so that our absolutely necessary work can
continue.
I look forward to seeing you on October 16 or hearing from you even if
you live far away or can't make the party for other reasons.
In friendship and unity,
Kathy Black
Gene Bruskin
Eileen Connelly
Bob Muehlenkamp
Brooks Sunkett
Nancy Wohlforth
USLAW Co-Convenors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you donated recently, please pass this appeal on to others and, if at
all possible, please consider donating again.
Donations made online are eligible for a tax deduction to the extent
permitted by law.
*If you are contributing by check and want to claim a tax deduction,
make your check payable to USLAW - IPS. However, doing so reduces the
value of your contribution by adding additional processing fees. Add
"IPS" only if you desire a tax-deduction.
IPS stands for Institute for Policy Studies. USLAW is a 501(c)(4)
non-profit association. The Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) - a
501(c)(3) organization - serves as USLAW's non-profit fiscal sponsor. It
helps to underwrite the work of USLAW.
Support USLAW's Important Work with a DONATION!
Your contribution keeps labor's antiwar movement going and growing.
DONATE HERE
The link below is a membership form for you to join as an individual.
http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/downloads/AssociateMemberApplication.pdf
