Texas Labor Against the War

Our retired postal worker friend in New York comments on the IVAW’s statement and adds some history . . . http://firemtn.blogspot.com/2011/02/gov-walker-about-that-national-guard.html

GOV. WALKER: ABOUT THAT NATIONAL GUARD THING . . .

posted by Jimmy Higgins, Feb 25, 2011

I was greatly jazzed to read the new statement from Iraq Veterans Against the War which declares: “We Are Public Workers Too!” and opens:

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) calls on all U.S. military service members to refuse and resist any mobilization against workers organizing to protect their basic rights. IVAW stands in solidarity with the multitude gathered in Madison, Wisconsin and many other cities to defend their unions. IVAW members across the Midwest are mobilizing to take part in the mass demonstration in Madison on Saturday in defense of unions and the right of public sector workers to collective bargaining.

It is, of course, Governor Scott Walker’s threat to deploy the Wisconsin National Guard to quell the storm of protest against his union-busting drive that makes the IVAW stance so important.

Those who thought this was probably idle bluster are probably reconsidering in light of the declaration today by the head of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association that the union supports the demonstrators and opposes any attempt to clear the Capitol building of its peaceful occupiers. Union executive director Jim Palmer added a call to members to join the occupation:

Law enforcement officers know the difference between right and wrong, and Governor Walker’s attempt to eliminate the collective voice of Wisconsin’s devoted public employees is wrong. That is why we have stood with our fellow employees each day and why we will be sleeping among them tonight.

The Wisconsin National Guard has been mobilized for strikebreaking duty in the past, notably in the bitter 1934 strike at the Kohler Company, one of the state’s largest industrial firms. 400 gunthugs were hired to break an AFL strike for union recognition and when their initial attacks killed two workers and injured scores more, they were met by militant and sometimes armed self-defense. As a former governor of Wisconsin, company president Walter J. Kohler, Sr. had no trouble getting a National Guard company deployed to “restore order”–resulting in the strike’s defeat.

But, as a retired postal worker, let me counter that bit of history with a more recent clash that Walker should contemplate before he makes good on his threat.

In 1970, employees of the United States Post Office Department were among the country’s poorer workers, paid so little that in large cities postal workers with families often applied for, and got, welfare to survive. Their unions were little more than fraternal organizations, with no right to bargain collectively or sign contracts.

At 12:01 on March 19 of that year, members of the Letter Carriers, following a vote in their local which rolled over objections from the longtime leadership, set up picket lines at facilities in the Bronx and Manhattan. Within a couple of days the strike had spread to other crafts, notably the clerks and mailhandlers, and to other major hubs, especially in the Northeast. The nation’s postal system started to grind to a halt.

In those pre-Internet, pre-direct deposit days, this had a massive impact on the economy. President Nixon got on teevee and ordered the strikers back to work. Some obeyed. Others walked out for the first time.

On March 25, Nixon took to the airwaves again to announce that he was mobilizing 25,000 National Guard (and even some elements of the Army and Marine Corps) in Operation Graphic Hand to get the mail flowing again. This turned out to be a massive failure.

In NYC, the epicenter of the strike, young troops–many deeply opposed to the war and part of the ‘60s “youthquake” (as Fortune Magazine termed it)–did show up at the designated postal facilities. Some of those mobilized were postal workers themselves, and they told the strikers what was going on inside–almost nothing. Better yet, when some officer came around to try and squeeze some work out of the Guardsmen, a sack of mail destined for, say, Huntsville, Alabama, would get a Juneau, Alaska destination tag slipped in its metal clip and be sent on its merry way.

Within days, things were even more fucked up than before. The government caved, and the US Postal Service was set up under the Postal Reorganization Act which recognized postal unions and permitted collective bargaining about wages, benefits, working conditions, health and safety and so on.

These are different times than 1970, to be sure, but Governor Walker might do well to reflect on the old saying: Be careful what you wish for–you just might get it!

This month we lost a great friend and a longtime supporter of Under the Hood.  Nel LeBar passed away on January 30, 2011 surrounded by her family after losing a battle with cancer. In the words of Nel’s granddaughter:  ”Nel lived a life of grace and love. Her absence will leave no small hole for those who called her friend, which includes her family. Those who knew her were changed by her, and those who met her were inspired. Her legacy will live on in the memories and hearts that carry her spirit always. She didn’t waste one moment here on Earth and demonstrated love in everything that she did. Her gentle soul that longed for peace has finally found it.”

Under the Hood has teamed up with IVAW in support of Operation Recovery.   Join Iraq Veterans Against the War and Under the Hood in our effort to stop the deployment of troops suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma.  By signing our pledge, you agree to do what you can to defend our right to heal and to hold accountable those responsible for the deployment of traumatized troops.  We need your help to build the Operation Recovery Campaign.  You can take the pledge at www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery.

Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a one-time donation or want to sign up as a sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.  

 January, 2011

Staff and volunteers with Under the Hood are starting off the year with renewed energy!

As the wars drag on in Afghanistan and Iraq, the new year reminds us that we must renew our commitment to peace, so we are starting off the year with a busy schedule.  In coordination with Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), here are a few things that we have on our calendar for January and February:

 IVAW/Veterans for Peace Joint Meeting, January 22nd 1p.m. at Under the Hood Cafe: Bringing together the pro-soldier anti-war veteran community in Central Texas.  Opportunities to get to know one another, discuss upcoming events and dates, and to discuss active duty outreach. Consider getting involved at the start to help make history at Fort Hood this year.

Those interested in this training should RSVP Kyle at [email protected].

 

Outreach Action – From the 24th of January through the middle of February IVAW Fort Hood and Under the Hood Cafe are going to be heavily focused on outreach to the 1st Cavalry Division that will be deploying 3,500 soldiers to Afghanistan and Iraq. This mobilization is part of a deployment of 23,000 soldiers from across the country to Afghanistan to replace the 101st Airborne that are set to return in February.

This outreach will conclude with a highly visible action that will include “harass the brass” tactics and messages that include:

We know that the command of the 1st Cav. is deploying wounded soldiers.

We know that this is a violation of these soldiers’ right to heal.

We want you to know that you are not alone.

You have a right to heal and you do not have to deploy with PTSD. 

 

In addition to these upcoming activities, here are a couple of things that have already happened so far this month:

 Cindy Thomas, Manager with Under the Hood, talks about the suicide rates at Fort Hood and the lack of support that soldiers receive when suffering with PTSD.  Check out her interview with Channel 10 News (KWTX) in Waco here.

 

Under the Hood recently hosted a slam poetry night.  It was a success, and now staff and volunteers are considering some writing workshops!

Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a one-time donation or want to sign up as a sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal. 

The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.

Fort Hood Support Network is proud to inform its supporters that Under the Hood recently received a $300 grant from RESIST Inc. In addition, Under the Hood is working with the War Resisters League who recently received funding to provide support to GI coffeehouses across the U.S. If you know of other grant opportunities, please feel free to contact us. We are always looking for opportunities to increase our base of support.

Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood?  We are always happy for support in any form.  Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance.  If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to contact us.  We’d be happy to put you to work!

Under the Hood Update is on Facebook.  Become a fan!  You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood.  Visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

New Priorities Meeting, Washington DC, October 3, 2010 from Mike Prokosch on Vimeo.

see also: http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org/article.php?id=23246

How can we move our money from the Pentagon to our communities, fund the jobs and services we need?

On October 3 2010, some 26 peace, racial and economic justice organizations came together and founded a network to support the long-term organizing it will take. This video features short statements about challenges we’ll face: breaking down the silos between movements, building power at the grassroots, organizing for the long term, focusing on what matters to our neighbors, connecting the economic pain of today with the ‘justice economy’ that’s possible.

Speakers are: Michael Eisenscher and Michael Zweig, USLAW; Phyllis Bennis, IPS; Alan Charney, US Action; Steve WIlliams, POWER and GGJ; Aaron Hughes, IVAW; Judith Le Blanc, Peace Action; Lisa Savage, Code Pink and Bring Our War $ Home; Joanie Parker, 1199SEIU and the Boston Coalition to Fund Our Coalition – Cut Military Spending 25%; Michael Leon Guerrero, Grassroots Global Justice.

LEARN MORE

http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/alice-embree-war-is-over.html

from Courage to Resist, http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/849/1/

Bradley Manning Support Network, www.bradleymanning.org.

Washington D.C., July 27, 2010 – The Bradley Manning Support Network is accepting donations for the defense of Private First Class Bradley Manning. The Network, a grassroots initiative formed to defend and support accused whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning, has partnered with Courage to Resist, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military objectors.

• Click here to donate now to the Bradley Manning defense fund
  632 individuals have donated a total $33,114 as of 1pm PST Aug. 11, 2010

• Frequently asked questions regarding the defense fund. By Jeff Paterson, Courage to Resist. Updated August 3, 2010
• Order “Free Bradley Manning” shirts, posters, and buttons
• “Blowing the whistle on a war crime is not a crime” PDF poster (11″x17″ PDF) (large JPG)
• Photos of Bradley Manning (facebook.com/couragetoresist)
• The Nation: “WikiLeaks in Baghdad”. By Sarah Lazare, Courage to Resist, and Ryan Harvey. July 29, 2010

Manning, a 22 year old intelligence analyst stationed in Iraq, stands accused of disclosing a classified video depicting American troops shooting civilians from an Apache helicopter in 2007. Eleven adults are killed in the video, including two Reuters employees, and two children critically injured. The video, available at www.collateralmurder.com, was published by WikiLeaks on April 5, 2010. No charges have been filed against the soldiers in the video.

Bradley Manning faces up to 52 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.

While news sources have speculated about Manning’s involvement in a new leak of over 90,000 secret documents (collectively known as the Afghanistan “war logs”) made public by WikiLeaks on Sunday, no charges regarding this recent breach have been filed.

As of this writing, Manning has not yet chosen a civilian attorney to defend him in the expected trial. While several news sources had previously indicated that funding for Manning’s legal counsel was already arranged, the Bradley Manning Support Network states that there is an immediate need for donations to his legal defense.

Legal defense in this case will be particularly expensive because any legal team will most likely need a background in military law and the flexibility to travel overseas for the trial as well as secret security clearance. . . . .

Courage to Resist. July 14, 2010

“From what I’ve heard of (Pfc. Bradley) Manning, he is a new hero of mine.” —Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistle-blower

In April, the Wikileaks website released a video depicting a US helicopter attack in Baghdad that killed eleven unarmed Iraqi civilians, including two Reuters employees, and seriously wounded two children. Titled “Collateral Murder”, the video was widely posted and reported on.

Last week, the Army charged 22-year-old intelligence analyst Pfc. Bradley Manning with providing the video after he allegedly took credit for doing so online. For the past month, he has been held in isolation from supporters and civilian legal assistance in a US military confinement facility in Kuwait.

The Potomac, Maryland native was charged with two counts of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). The first encompasses eight alleged criminal offenses, and a second covers four noncriminal violations of Army regulations governing the handling of classified information and computers. According to the Army, the “classified video of a military operation in Iraq was transmitted to a third party, in violation of a section of the Espionage Act, 18 USC 793(e),” which involves passing classified information to an uncleared party, but not a foreign government. He allegedly also provided Wikileaks with 50 classified diplomatic cables that are thought to contain embarrassing insights into the state of the US occupation of Iraq.

News articles initially reported that the Iceland-based Wikileaks website intended to provide Bradley Manning with a legal defense team. However, the Army has so far blocked all communications with the soldier. Meanwhile, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Eric Bloom has gone on record to deny that the isolation even exists.

It is possible that the Army prosecutors, in collaboration with an appointed military JAG “defense” lawyer, are using this time to pressure Bradley into accepting a plea bargain that will send him to prison for many years—but less than the threatened 52 years.

Courage to Resist, along with members of Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and Veterans for Peace, is launching an effort to support Bradley Manning. We know other concerned organizations and individuals around the world who are also in the process of finding ways to support Bradley Manning, and we expect to collaborate when possible. These include advocates for whistle-blowers and supporters of the freedom of information.

Writing a letter to Bradley is one step in attempting to break his isolation. Mail to: Inmate Bradley Manning; TFCF (Theater Field Confinement Facility); APO AE 09366; USA . . . . .

for the full story, see http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/846/122/

see also http://www.ivaw.org/, “IVAW Supports Bradley Manning,” with a video

The recent IVAW National Convention in Austin, and additional events in Killeen were a big success! IVAW kicked off its convention in style with a protest at the gates of Fort Hood.  But that was just the beginning.  On Friday, after a great day of meetings, discussions and presentations, an appreciation dinner was held at 5604 Manor.  Veterans and supporters had an opportunity to talk and enjoy a great meal together.  Last, but certainly not least, IVAW members returned to Under the Hood Saturday night for a barbecue, concert and fundraiser.  The concert was originally scheduled at a venue in Harker Heights, but after the venue management cancelled the event, Under the Hood offered to step in as the new concert location.  The evening was a big success.  Under the Hood would like to take this opportunity to thank IVAW and everyone at the concert who made donations so that we can continue our important work to support soldiers and veterans!

Under the Hood needs YOUR assistance now!  This is a critical time and we can’t keep our doors open without your ongoing support. Please consider signing up for a recurring donation today. If you believe in the work we do at Under the Hood, show us your support by considering a monthly donation.  As little as $10.00 a month can go a long way toward making Under the Hood sustainable.   Two hundred supporters contributing $10 a month will help us ensure that we can continue to provide these important services.  It’s easy to become a sustainer through PayPal.  The first 100 supporters to sign up for a sustaining donation will receive their choice of a poster or 12 oz. bag of Under the Hood coffee!   We would like to thank our most recent UtH supporters. A special thanks to our newest sustaining donors. Two months into this campaign, we have 38 sustaining donors toward our goal of 200!   We would also like to again thank IVAW for their recent donation and support.    The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center.  FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.

Under the Hood has an update regarding the military spouses who recently contacted us for assistance. Last month we told you about a group of military spouses who were seeking assistance in speaking out against combat training for soldiers with no-deployment profiles.  Dahr Jamail’s interview and subsequent press that the spouses received seems to have had some positive impact.    Immediately following the release of Dahr Jamail’s article on multiple national websites, the Fort Hood Sentinal published a news release entitled “Policy changes affect Soldier deployability, readiness; regulatory guidance provided”.  Additionally, according to the spouses who spoke out, four of the soldiers deemed non-deployable were notified that they would have a Medical Evaluation Board initiated and one was informed that he would be chaptered out.         (Image: Lance Page / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: AfghanistanMatters, assbach)

Check out the new ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out here.      Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood.  Visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

P.O. Box 16174 | Austin, TX 78761-6174 US

IRAQ VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR CONVENTION KICK-OFF
Friday, July 9, 7pm, 5604 Manor Road

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is holding its 2010 national
convention July 9-11 in Austin, and supporters of IVAW will have a chance
for informal discussion and socializing with the group’s members. Tickets
for the event, which will include a buffet catered by Mamas of Color
Rising, will be $15 at the door. In addition to an awards presentation,
the evening will feature a talk by Antonia Juhasz, director of the Chevron
Program at Global Exchange and author The Tyranny of Oil: the World’s Most
Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It. Juhasz is a member of
the advisory board of IVAW. The panels and workshops for the IVAW
convention will be on Saturday, July 10, at Huston-Tillotson University,
900 Chicon St. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a national
membership organization of veterans and active duty troops who have served in the “Global War on Terror” since September 11, 2001. Founded in 2004 by nine Iraq veterans, IVAW is now made up of 65 chapters comprised of close to 2,000 members, including chapters on military bases. IVAW is building a national GI and veterans’ resistance movement to 1) end the occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2) attain quality health care and other benefits for returning troops, and 3) win reparations to rebuild a sovereign Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information visit the IVAW website.

http://www.ivaw.org