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... AND HERE'S BROTHER KIRKLAND MODELING A GORGEOUS LITTLE CENTRAL AMERICAN NUMBER DESIGNED BY REAGAN OF HOLLYWOOO!"

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Donahue addresses Minnesota AFL-CIO convention. Donahue's resolution on Central America was overwhelmingly 10 SOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 1985 LABOR NOTES 1985 Human Rights in El Salvador was formed. This committee includes the presidents of 24 major international unions. It has issued two fact-finding reports-the latest one in July 1985strongly opposing the AFL-CIO line on Central America.

The committee's July 1985 report, entitled "The Search for Peace in Central America, recommended that all U.S. military aid to the government of El Salvador be stopped on the grounds that "the human rights situation in El Salvador has not improved and tradeunion and political rights are still being violated."

The report also stated that "the crimes of the past have gone unpunished" and that "President Napoleon Duarte [of El Salvador] does not possess the power necessary to implement needed reforms and sustain a demoTaken from August 1985 issue of Labor Note National Labor Committee report recommended that the U.S. government "end all military support for the counterrevolutionary groups (contras) attacking Nicaragua from Honduras and Costa Rica."

The report stated that Nicaragua is not "the totalitarian government of Reagan's pronouncements." It also noted that "the contra forces are not supported by the vast majority of the Nicaraguan people."

The Doherty/Brown road show The fall AIFLD road tour featured keynote speeches by Irving Brown, head of the labor federation's International Affairs Department, and William Doherty, executive director of AIFLD. Also part of the tour were presentations by three Central American trade unionists who are affiliated to unions supported by the AFL-CIO through AIFLD.

Doherty told labor gatherings around the country that the purpose of the AFL-CIO/AIFLD campaign was to answer the "deliberate campaign of misinformation and deception promoted by the Sandinista government of Nicaragua and by the Communist-led World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)."

Doherty, with few facts and typical CIA disinformation tactics, sought to demonstrate that "Nicaragua was responsible for the systematic violation of basic trade-union and human rights." He called on the Sandinista government "to open a dialogue with the democratic opposition [i.e. the contras] and to implement a system of democratic pluralism as originally promised to the Organization of American States."

Doherty also praised the Duarte government in El Salvador, which has been massively bombing the civilian population in a modern "scor‹ :hed-earth" policy, for curbing humar 1 rights abuses.

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hue was able to convince the resolutions committee to recommend a "yes" vote on his Central America resolution and a "no" vote on the two opposing resoluWhen it came time to vote, the Kirkland line was overwhelmingly defeated. "There were almost no 'yes' votes for the Kirkland resolution-at most 10 to 15 out of 729 delegates, said the union official. Egardo Garcia, leader of the pro-Sandinista labor federation in Nicaragua, with Keith Johnsol Moreover, the two opposing resolu- Ed Clark, ACTWU vice president (rear). Garcia and Johnson will be among speakers on Ce tions calling for an end to U.S. military antiwar conference in San Francisco. Other panelists include Dolores Huerta, vice president aid to the Duarte government and an James Herman, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union; and Dave end to U.S. support to the contras won Committee in Support of Democracy and Human Rights in El Salvador. by a large majority.

Compromise reached in Massachusetts Kirkland upheld the decision and told ration of State, County and Municipal Coming just a few days after the Employees (AFSCME); and more than national AFL-CIO convention, the Nov.

On Oct. 3-5, the Massachusetts State According to a Nov. 28, 1984, press iO union locals and local presidents.

2 conference is being viewed by many in AFL-CIO convention was the scene of a release by the Massachusetts Central "This tour represents organizations the labor movement as a national forum similar confrontation between the two America Referendum Campaign, the hat are associated with the Communistin opposition to the AIFLD fall camopposing wings of the labor movement. "Vote Yes For Peace" initiative won by ed World Federation of Trade Unions paign. [See article on Nov. 2 conference But the character and the outcome of a 2-to-1 majority statewide and a 3-to-1 WFTU) based in Prague, Czechoslova- in this issue of Socialist Action.] the debate were different because of the majority in the Greater Boston area. tia" Kirkland wrote in his letter. He different strategy adopted by the Massa- "While the voters re-elected Ronald ontinued, "I call your attention to the Rubber-stamp days are over chusetts Labor Committee on Central Reagan, the statement noted, "they tatement adopted by the AFL-CIO Meanwhile, a campaign is underway America, a group of 45 local union rejected his aggressive policy in Central Ixecutive Council on Aug. 14 which by the local Labor Committees on Cenpresidents who support the conclusions alls upon all of its affiliates-and tral America throughout the country to of the National Labor Committee's lat- Slaney lamented that the "undemo- ndeed all American trade unionists-to get the state AFL-CIO presidents and cratic" ruling by the Kirkland sup- hun contacts with the WFTU and its the local central labor council presiDave Slaney, president of the United porters on the labor council "[had] pre- dents-the delegates to the Anaheim Steelworkers of America Local 2431 vented the labor movement in the city Once again, despite Kirkland's "red- convention-to endorse a resolution and the labor committee's chairperson, from joining with the progressive ›aiting" appeal, many local union calling for support to the National explained that the oppositionists had majority to oppose Reagan's war." ›odies were willing to defy the top labor Labor Committee's recommendations. proposed a compromise to Dave Jessup, AIFLD's official representative at the Controversy over tours eadership. Moreover, as of this writing, lone of the labor endorsers of the tour culated nationally states, "The National A campaign letter that has been circonvention, in the hopes of helping to lave withdrawn their names.

Another aspect of the continuing Labor Committee represents over 50 "educate the ranks about U.S. interventionist policy in Central America." debate over Central America involves "Labor must take a stand" Der working people in abe United States the various U.S. tours of non-AIFLD "We said we'd withdraw our On Aug. 23, 1985, the San Francisco trade unionists from Central America. that this AFL-CIO convention accution if they withdrew theirs, Say Area Mobilization for Peace, Jobs said. "I think they didn't want This aspect of the controversy is not nd Justice, the coalition that organized rately reflect the views of its members." fight and were afraid we'd win, new. In March 1983, Kirkland sent out march of 50,000 people on April 20, As of this writing there are no indicaaccepted our proposal." a letter to all AFL-CIO state and local ent out a letter to the community tions that the National Labor CommitSlaney said the compromise also central bodies urging them not to nnouncing a Nov. 2 antiwar confer- tee members will submit a counterresoinvolved a public debate at the time of endorse the tour of Alejandro Molina nce. The conference announcement lution to Kirkland's at the upcoming the convention between Frank Hammer, Lara, the organizational secretary of the acluded the signatures of most of the AFL-CIO convention. 'We've heard whom the committee had flown in from National Federation of Salvadoran major labor leaders in the Bay Area. rumors that leaders in ACTWU are conWorkers Unions (FENASTRAS). A recent brochure states that the pur- sidering presenting a resolution calling ose of the conference is "to bring for an end to U.S. support to the conFENASTRAS is a federation including 26 national unions in El Salvador. It ogether nationally prominent trade tras, but these are just rumors" said is affiliated to the Trade Union Unity nionists and religious and community Steelworkers' local president Slaney. ore heat than ever before Committee (CUS), which includes nine igures to address the need for building "There is more heat than ever before Salvadoran labor federations, represent- majority movement against U.S. inter- to follow the State Department line, le State Department line." ing the vast majority of organized labor ention in Central America, against said a union official who spoke on the J.S. support to South Africa apartheid, condition he not be identified. "The Kirkland's letter deplored the fact gainst nuclear weapons, and for jobs National Labor Committee people will that Molina Lara had been invited to be submitted to a heavy dose of redspeak before numerous union bodies. It Explaining his decision to endorse Detroit, and Jessup. Hammer's brother, also urged the local and regional union le Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Whatever the outcome of the convenMichael Hammer, was the AIFLD agri- directors to check with the AFL-CIO ustice, Al Lannon, president of Local tion vote, however, what is clear from cultural field agent who was killed in El Department of International Affairs of the International Longshore and the two months of intense debate over Salvador in Januarly 1981. before allowing anyone to speak to an Varehouse Union (ILWU), told Social- Central America is that growing num"The trade-off was definitely worth AFL-CIO body on an international mat- it Action: "There is a very real move bers of organized workers in this counit from our point of view, Slaney said. ›ward direct U.S. intervention in Cen- try are willing to buck the AFL-CIO Kirkland sent a similar letter on al America by the United States. We leadership on a major foreign policy In the phone interview, Slaney also Aug. 29, 1985, warning all AFL-CIO on't need another generation of solproceeded to tell the story of how he affiliates not to endorse a proposed iers to come back in body bags." Ed Clark, vice president of ACTWU was overruled over one year ago by the U.S. tour of what he called "supporters Lannon continued: and a member of the last National "Kirkland people" in Boston. of the guerrilla movements." "Important sectors of the labor Labor Committee delegation to Central In July 1984, Slaney said, the Greater The tour of eight trade unionists movement are beginning to see the America, accurately described the situaBoston Labor Committee on Political from five countries in Central America need to get involved in the peace tion leading up to the AFL-CIO's Education (COPE) approved a resolu- began in early October and is scheduled issue before the body bags come national convention. tion he had submitted calling on the to last through November. It has back. They are understanding that Clark said: "The days when a few entire Boston labor movement to sup- already coincided in at least one city labor can rebuild its strength if it people in the [AFL-CIO] Department of port a non-binding referendum on the with the AIFLD fall campaign tour. rebuilds alliances with the commu- International Affairs made policy and Nov. 2 ballot that demanded an end to The tour has been endorsed and nity around issues that go beyond had it rubber stamped by the Executive U.S. intervention in Central America. actively supported by several national the bread-and-butter issues." Council are over."

union presidents, including Kenneth T.

"Although my resolution passed", Blaylock of the American Federation of Slaney said, "the Kirkland people ruled Government Employees (AFGE) and that it could not be submitted for a vote William Winpisinger of the Internato the full meeting of the Greater Bostional Association of Machinists (IAM). ton Labor Council. It was ruled out of Both are members of the National order because it conflicted with AFLLabor Committee.

Other labor tour supporters include "Of course, I was furious and regional directors; international union appealed this ruling to the AFL-CIO vice presidents such as Edward W. Clark National Executive Council, Slaney Jr. of the Amalgamated Clothing and said. "Earlier this year, I was finally Textile Workers Union (ACTWU) and given 20 minutes to appeal my case, but Thomas P. Cronin of the American FedSOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 1985 nilitary and ttacking the : by name, committee tions. lion delegaıragua over "promoted nation and eport circuis, Doherty jations have k's tour.... lited States, orts on how = and what rs.".

:CtS in, even the in El Salvaratic Unity the Duarte PD had inile's big sup• to Duarte's , UPD Genoza indicted est report. ir failing to ion and for gainst legitioke its pact ent, AIFLD port to the ted the UPD cers Central titious orgalaximum of Network on D has been ı new rightwhich is an Aubuisson's on is one of loza wrote a ident Lane i is rapidly 'corruption, resentation," led his letter ) get out of ge to the eign policy CIO conven• labor offi= Minnesota in. Thomas rer of the 'aul, Minn., nvention to tral America in after the part of the CIO policy. " ons, said a ed not to be ›lained that lure" Doname to get lost."

America." resoluSlaney a floor so they in El Salvador. ter.

1, WoO atral A of the Dyson iffiliates." nd justice."

baiting." issue.

workel merica United of the UNICO STATES OF AMERICA ational Labor Committee s president, and panel at Nov. 2 Farm Workers; National Labor

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