US LABOR
AGAINST THE
WAR (USLAW)

Organized at a meeting Jan. 11 at Teamsters Local 705 in Chicago, U.S. Labor Against the War brings together more than 200 local unions, 50 Central Labor Councils, dozens of regional labor bodies and six national unions to speak out for peace. Visit the USLAW web site to learn about the coalition’s activities and read its resolutions.

Support the Troops
Question the War

	MORE
		UE Policy (set by 2002 Convention)
		UE Endorses Goals of Labor Against War (UE News Update)
		UE Leaders Say 'No to War!' (UE News Update)
		Blood and Oil - A Middle East Primer (UE News Feature)
	LINKS
		United for Peace
		U.S. Labor Against the War (website)

• UE Officers: "Support the Troops;
       Question the War"
       (in UE News Update)
• Support for UE Members in Uniform
       Memo from UE Gen.
      Sec. Treas. Bruce Klipple
      (on this page)
• USLAW Response to War
       (USLAW website)

PREVIOUSLY POSTED:
• Historic Global Labor Press Conference
• UE Members Join World Day of Demonstrations
• UE Locals Urged to Adopt USLAW Resolution

Support for UE Members in Uniform

March 28, 2003

To: UE Locals
General Executive Board
From: Bruce J. Klipple, General Secretary-Treasurer
Re: Support for UE Members in Uniform

In line with UE policy, the National Union encouraged activities to prevent a war on Iraq. Now that the war is underway, the National Officers believe the Union should do its utmost to show support for the UE members and close relatives who have been called up to serve in this conflict.

Within the first 24 hours of the war, a statement from the National Officers supporting the troops, but reserving the right to question the war, was posted on the UE Website. That statement is enclosed. Please reproduce and post as you see fit.

We will be providing local leaders and staff with information to help you best protect the job rights of those called to duty and raise demands on employers to make our members whole for any lost wages or benefits resulting from service to their country.

We will be working for legislation (now before Congress) which would make sure workers don’t lose pay when they are called into service in cases such as this. In the near future we will provide you with information so that this can become a union-wide campaign.

Please notify the UE NEWS of these and related activities, including collective bargaining, grievances, etc., aimed at ensuring the rights of our members in uniform.

We would like to have as complete a list as possible of those UE members who have been called to Iraq, and their addresses. The UE NEWS will print photos and letters from UE members serving in Iraq; such contributions are encouraged. Also, with their permission, the UE NEWS would like to print addresses of servicepeople on duty to encourage members to write to their co-workers and friends.

The Union continues to have a responsibility to raise important questions about Bush’s war plans and the future of Iraq, particularly as they relate to corporate globalization schemes. The Union also has a responsibility to support its members in uniform now and as they return to the shops.

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