Austin, October 5, 2008. The biennial statewide general assembly of the 12,000 member Texas State Employees Union (CWA Local 6186) passed an antiwar resolution Sunday morning, Oct. 5. TxLAW members and other TSEU activists promoted the resolution, which passed by a voice vote, though not without considerable opposition. We publicized the resolution prior to the Assembly and got a number of folks to enthusiastically sign on. More signed on when they arrived at the Assembly and learned about the resolution. We tried to talk to a lot of delegates during the weekend and we passed out numerous copies of the resolution. Our union has a large and diverse membership, so opposition was to be expected. It was mostly along three lines: people who argued the resolution was unnecessary and divisive; veterans (especially those who have served in Iraq) and family of deployed military members, who believe in the wars; people who oppose the war in Iraq but believe the Afghanistan war needs to be fought. Of course, many veterans supported the resolution. We believed it was appropriate for our union to consider an antiwar resolution at this time. The human and financial toll of these wars has a direct effect on members of our union and on the people we serve.
Below is the text of our resolution. You can read the national resolution on a previous news post on this website. Our resolution has been posted on the national US Labor Against the War website. We appreciate the attention! See it at http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?list=type&type=52
Resolution adopted by Texas State Employees Union 2008 General Assembly, October 5, 2008
Working for Peace and Labor Rights in Iraq and Afghanistan: In support of resolution passed at 2008 CWA national convention
Whereas: Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been a disaster for the U.S. people, U.S. military members, and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whereas: TSEU members, family, and friends are among those who’ve been killed and wounded, who are veterans, or who are now in harm’s way.
Whereas: The U.S. continues to spend billions of dollars on these wars that we need at home for public services, veterans services, infrastructure rebuilding, and public worker pay and benefits.
Whereas: U.S. and Iraqi government attacks on the Iraqi labor movement are an affront to labor unions everywhere.
Whereas: The national convention of our parent union, the Communications Workers of America, adopted a strong resolution opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, supporting our troops and veterans, and supporting our union brothers and sisters in Iraq.
RESOLVED: TSEU/CWA Local 6186 adopts the national CWA resolution.
RESOLVED: TSEU/CWA Local 6186 will actively work to implement this resolution by adding our voice to those demanding that resources spent on these wars be redirected to our needs at home; by demanding of our government that our troops, veterans, and their families get the medical care and benefits they deserve; and by exploring affiliation with U.S. Labor Against the War and other groups which support international labor standards.
In June, thousands of social justice activists met in Detroit at the USSF to discuss, plan, and organize the struggle for a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. It was the second of these vibrant, cross-issue social change gatherings. Those of us from TSEU were inspired by seeing so many labor union groups all through the event–UAW, Teamsters, Steelworkers, AFSCME, United Electrical Workers, AFT, etc., etc.
success on wage theft and construction safety issues in Austin as part of the labor movement which is larger than unions alone.
