U.S. Labor Movement Organizes Against White House War Plan

Interview with Gene Bruskin, US Labor Against the War, conducted by Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus

As organizing against the Bush administration's plan for war with Iraq intensifies, the voice of labor is rising. Opponents of a new war in the Persian Gulf got a big boost last month when 100 labor representatives met in Chicago to coordinate their efforts nationwide. There, members of unions such as AFSCME, American Federation of Teachers, Health Care Workers/ 1199, Service Employees International, United Auto Workers, Carpenters and many others formed a new coalition dubbed U.S. Labor Against the War.

Union activists had a noticeable presence during massive protests against the war, held on Jan. 18th on both coasts, and promise to be even more visible in upcoming demonstrations, including the Febr. 15th actions in New York City and elsewhere.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Gene Bruskin, a labor leader based in Washington, D.C., and co-organizer of the new coalition, U.S. Labor Against the War. Bruskin discusses labor's dissatisfaction with the Bush administration on several fronts and the groundswell of labor support for a new U.S. foreign policy.

For more information, call U.S. Labor Against the War at (917) 282-0139, visit the group's website at: www.uslaboragainstwar.org or email g8751@erols.com

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