Regrettably, no one from the LA Palestine Labor Solidarity Committee
will be able to attend this event or the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago
next week, though we are in contact with the organizers of this
conference. If anyone from L.A. is going to the AFL-CIO Convention in
Chicago, please attend this event and consider working with us in
solidarity with Palestinian workers.
Emma Rosenthal
LAPLSC
818-404-5784
_______________________________
REBUILDING INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY: LABOR FOR PALESTINE
Labor for Palestine Conference
Saturday, July 23
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (doors open at 8:30)
University of Illinois-Chicago
Student Center East (Formerly Chicago Circle Center)
750 S. Halsted Street, 6th Floor
Free, Open to the Public, Lunch Provided (Donations Are Appreciated)
JOIN US FOR OUR FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO!
Just before the AFL-CIO convenes in Chicago, its delegates will have
a rare
opportunity to learn about Palestinian and Middle Eastern labor
rights and
unionizing efforts, as well as American unionists' efforts to
support them.
This conference will also examine the history of the relationship of
the
AFL-CIO to Israel as well as the extensive investments of AFL-CIO
pension
funds into Israel Bonds.
One of our featured speakers will be Atef Saad, Director of the
Media and
Information Department for the Palestine General Federation of Trade
Unions.
Other speakers include participants in American labor delegations to
the
West Bank, as well as unionists whom AFL-CIO unions have tried to
silence
when they have taken public stands in defense of Palestinian rights.
The
conference will also debut a new film by Alternate Focus on the
contradictory relationship between U.S. labor and Israel.
Labor For Palestine is a growing nationwide network that aims to
change the
AFL-CIO's policy toward Israel; disinvest union pension funds from
Israel
Bonds; organize labor delegations to Occupied Palestine; and increase
education and awareness on fundamental labor and human rights.
We invite labor activists, trade unionists and union locals to
endorse and
participate in this critical conference. For additional information
on the
conference such as registration, directions, background information and
other items please visit the conference website at
http://www.laborforpalestine.org, send an email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED], or
call 312-491-9092.
Co-Sponsored by (list in formation): New York City Labor Against the
War,
Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago; Not In My Name; Al-Awda, The
Palestine
Right to Return Coalition, Students for Social Justice, UIC Students
for
Justice in Palestine, DePaul Students for Justice in Palestine, Chicago
ANSWER
www.laborforpalestine.org
National Labor Conference On Palestine, Labor & The AFL-CIO
On July 23, 2005, LFP will hold a national educational conference in
Chicago on the issues of Palestine, Labor and the AFL-CIO. At the
same time that the National AFL-CIO supports the US war and
occupation of Iraq, it also defends the "strangulation wall" and the
institution of an apartheid state against the Palestinian workers
and people. This conference will examine the history of the
relationship of the AFL-CIO to Israel as well as the extensive
investments of AFL-CIO pension funds into Israel Bonds.
We will also look at the active efforts of the AFL-CIO leadership
and supporters of Israel to silence its critics in the labor
movement. This will include a review of past efforts to purge
professors and teachers who are supporters of Palestinian rights.
Finally, the conference will look at how and why the labor movement
around the world has come to the defense of Palestinian workers and
unions. We invite labor activists, trade unionists and union locals
to endorse and participate in this critical conference.
Where? The University of Illinois, Chicago, IL. Student Center East
(formerly Chicago Circle Center - CCC), 750 S. Halsted Street 6th
Floor, Room 605.
When? Saturday, July 23rd, 2005 from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Register at the door or online registration.
Features: The event will include local and international speakers
who have led labor delegations to Palestine, or who have experience
in US labor activism. The conference will also debut two new
documentaries: Breaking Walls by Video 48 on labor in Palestine, and
the latest film by Alternate Focus, which investigates the
contradictory relationship between US labor and Israel.
Parking: There is a short-term metered parking lot directly across
from the conference location. The rates are 15 minutes for every
quarter and accommodates people loading and unloading their
vehicles, or those staying for less than two hours, which requires
feeding the meter. This facility can be accessed via the entrance
on Polk Street (see map). Adjacent to the short term lot is a
multi-level parking garage with hourly rates ranging from
$2-$9. This facility, listed on the map as HTPS or Halsted/Taylor
Parking Structure, can be accessed via the entrance at 760 West
Taylor Street.
Public Transportation: Take the CTA Blue Line and get off at the
UIC/Halsted stop. As you exit the platform via the east ramp you
will come up on Halsted St. Turn right and walk two blocks south to
your destination. There are several CTA bus routes with stops that
are within 0-3 blocks of the conference including the #8 Halsted, #7
Harrison, #37 Sedgewick/Ogden and #12 Roosevelt. For directions
from your specific location please call the RTA at 312-836-7000 and
give them your intended arrival time and departure location. You can
also find this information online at http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/.
Accessibility: The conference is being held in a fully accessible
location in accordance with ADA requirements. For specific
information please visit the Office for Access and Equity home page
at http://www.uic.edu/depts/oae/campus_accessibility_map.html or
call their office at 312-996-8670 or 312-413-3035 (TTY). People
requiring special parking accommodations should contact the Office
for Access and Equity as well as the parking enforcement office at
312-413-9020 prior to the day of the conference.
Contact: Eric Peters (312) 491 9092 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Program
8:30 am - 9:00 am Registration starts at Student Center East in
front of Room 605
9:00 am - 9:10 am Introduction: Tara Bosi (LFP)
9:10 am - 9:30 am Historical and Political Overview of
Palestinian Workers with Hakim Husien (Palestine Aid Society)
9:30 am - 10:15 am Panel I
Experiences in Fighting for Solidarity with Palestinian Workers
Facilitator: Howard Lenow
Panelists: Steve Zeltzer (Palestine Video Project), David Williams
(AFSCME), and Mohammed Abed (Al Awda)
10:15 am - 10:45 pm Questions/Answers and Discussion
10:45 am - 11:00 am Break
11:00 am - 11:30 am Atef Sa¹ed, Director of Media and Information
for the PGFTU Discusses the Current Situation of Workers in Palestine
11:30 am - 12:00 am Questions/Answers and Discussion
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch will be provided, and the option to
view Breaking Walls will be available.
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm Panel II
General Situation of Solidarity with Workers from Middle East,
Including the Effects of Sept 11 and the Iraq War
Facilitator: Hatem Abudayyah (PSG)
Panelists: Joe Asbacher (Local 73 SEIU), Anh Pham (AFSCME Local
3800) and Bill Davis
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm Questions/Answers and Discussion
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Break
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm Alternate Focus Divestment film
3:00 pm 3:45 pm Panel III
Action for Solidarity: Resolutions, Delegations, Divestment, Media
Facilitator: Tara Bosi (LFP)
Panelists: Howard Lenow, Charlotte Kates (Al Awda), and Matt Gaines
(ISM)
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm Resolutions for action, Questions/Answers and
Discussion
LFP¹s Resolution on Israel Bonds To Be Presented at the Convention:
Whereas, the use of union pension money is a vehicle for bringing
change against union busters in the US and around the world and,
Whereas, the purchase of Israel Bonds has helped the Israeli
government pursue it's continued construction of illegal settlements
in the West Bank and Gaza and,
Whereas, these pension funds have been invested without the
knowledge and vote of the membership of unions within the AFL-CIO and,
Whereas, the Israeli government has targeted trade unionists and
their unions for repression and destruction and,
Whereas, the US labor movement opposed the apartheid regime in South
Africa and opposes all regimes that discriminate against workers
because of religion, race or national origin and,
Whereas, US labor can no longer acquiesce with the polices of the
AFL-CIO leadership including many internationals in continuing the
financial support of this regime,
Whereas, US labor must divest from any regime or
institution that violates international law, including the
Palestinian right to return,
Therefore, be it resolved, the following trade unionists call on our
affiliated unions and the AFL-CIO to divest of all Israeli bonds and
to oppose the continued occupation and apartheid regime in Israel.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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