Costs of This War & Occupation

The costs of this war and occupation fall on all of us, but especially working people. First and foremost, there are the service members themselves who are facing injury and death every day, as well as their family members who love them - the vast majority of whom are working people. Then there are the financial costs: the US has spent over $450 billion on the war so far ($663 million of it from Vermont's taxpayers), and the Bush administration is now asking Congress to appropriate over $190 billion more for another year. The war is costing the US $720 million each day to occupy Iraq. That's money that could be used to build affordable housing, extend health insurance to every child, and train and hire tens of thousands of public school teachers.

Last but certainly not least, there are the Iraqi people themselves, who, after living with decades of political repression under Saddam Hussein, are now living under the heel of foreign troops. Over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced, and an estimated million Iraqis have died, as a result of the chaos the war and occupation have created. The rights of Iraqi working people to organize has been trampled and the labor movement has been suppressed by both the occupation and Iraqi government.

It is in labor's interest to end this war, because it's working people here and in Iraq who are being hurt most by it. Hundreds of union locals, labor councils, worker committees, state labor federations, and internationals - including the AFL-CIO - have called for an end to the war and the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. The majority of the American people want the same. But George Bush has said that the war must continue; it's up to American working people to make sure it ends, now.

Let’s Engage Our Members to Bring Our Troops Home . . and Take Care of Them When They Return

70% of Americans are against the war in Iraq. Yet our political leaders have failed to end it. We must find new ways to force an end to U.S.military involvement in Iraq. It is up to US to provide the 70% Solution! That’s what this letter is about.

President Bush wants another $190 billion to continue the occupation and war. He now seems intent on attacking Iran as he sends more forces to Iraq. Doing so will not only kill numerous innocent Iranians, but will also expose our troops in Iraq to a horrific backlash by pro-Iranian Iraqis. Such a reckless attack will only further isolate the U.S. in the world.

It’s time to show the politicians that we’re not as apathetic as they apparently think. We elected them to get us out of this mess, not to drag it on. We don’t want more of their empty promises, phony compromises, contrived goals and meaningless benchmarks. We want this war ended now. We won’t accept anything else.

Since President Bush refuses to end it, we must tell Congress to exercise its authority to stop funding the war and instead to fund an immediate rapid withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq. It is the only way to truly support our troops, and end this nightmare. Let’s use our resources to fully fund services to vets, provide universal health care, rebuild the Gulf, and meet numerous other human needs.

We need to draw more of our members who have yet to take action to actively oppose the war. Let’s press our demands for an immediate end to the bloodshed, shattered lives, wasted resources, abuses of power, and inadequate funding that has deprived the VA system the resources needed to provide world-class care our vets deserve.

Let’s ask our members to join the Nationwide Iraq Moratorium

The Iraq Moratorium is a simple, powerful organizing idea. On the 3^rd Friday of the month... October 19^th and November 16^th – all those who oppose the occupation of Iraq are asked to take an action to call for bringing our troops home now from Iraq, and taking care of them when they return.

We want to encourage locals to explore what you can do with workplaces actions. We favor actions that can be built in an organized way. Here are some ideas:

· Wear stickers

· Distribute a handout on the cost of the war to Vermont

· Organize a call-in, write-in or petition signing to Congress during breaks

· Ask people to do Congressional district office visits

· Show “Meeting Face to Face,” a documentary about the U.S. tour of Iraqi labor leaders

· Vigil near the VA hospital with signs saying, “Fund Vets’ Services, Not the War.”

For stickers, flyers, or the video, contact Vermont Labor Against the War - a coalition of the Vermont AFL-CIO, Champlain Valley and Washington-Orange-Lamoille Labor Councils, and Vermont Workers Center – at: traven_L@earthlink.net or 55 E. Bear Swamp Rd., Middlesex, VT 05602; tel. 802-522-3484

Working together, we in organized labor can provide a big part of the “70% Solution.” We do it for our troops. We do it for our families. We do it for our country. We do it to defend our democracy. We do it for peace. If we don’t do it, who will?

Unions Step in to Aid Injured Iraqi War Veteran

Richard Negri, a dedicated unionist who runs the blog Union Review, has a great post we’d like to highlight. Negri rightly applauds the organization Helmets to Hardhats, which connects National Guard, Reserve and transitioning active-duty military members with quality career training and employment opportunities within the construction industry and other trades.

Up in Windsor Locks, Conn., local building trades unions joined up with Helmets to Hardhats to assist a local veteran named Sgt. Barry Albert. The soldier lost a leg as a result of a May 14 attack on four U.S. Army vehicles in Iraq.

The 42-year-old war hero was driving the lead vehicle near the city of Al Hillah when he sustained significant shrapnel injuries to his leg, yet continued to drive his passengers to safety, including a wounded comrade.

When his story was heard, it was clearly identified that Sgt. Albert and his wife, Susan, needed to have their home retrofitted to accommodate his injury. Helmets to Hardhats, along with another group called Heroes to Hometowns and American Legion Post 36 in Windsor Locks, reached out to the building trades unions in the Greater Hartford area to help coordinate the effort.

And frankly, the unions came through…in a big way! They donated all labor and materials to make this happen. We learned today that the renovation work has begun and completion is expected within the next two weeks.

We take off our hats and say thank you to these union workers and salute Sgt. Albert—all for doing a great job!

From AFL-CIO blog