Vermont has always been an independent and revolutionary state. We became the first state to outlaw slavery, the first teacher-training school in the U.S., and we have a long standing tradition of town meetings. Within the personal and communal struggles that Vermonters have pushed through, there has always been solidarity and strength in the form of resistance; whether to a cold climate, or to big business, Vermonters have supported each other.

As the war in Iraq shifts into its sixth year, the executive board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, which represents thousands of workers in Vermont, has unanimously passed a historic resolution expressing their “unequivocal” support for the first US labor strike against the war in Iraq. Vermont union members will be in solidarity with of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), which will seek to shutdown all west coast ports for a period of 24 hours on May 1st 2008. This strike will be the first strike US labor strike against the war in Iraq.

The Vermont AFL-CIO resolution states the following:

"Whereas the war in Iraq is immoral, unwanted, and unnecessary,

Whereas this unjust war is opposed by the great majority of Americans & Vermonters, the bulk of organized labor, and by thousands of enlisted military personal,

Whereas this unjust war has already resulted in over 4000 American dead (including a disproportionate number of brave Vermonters), and tens of thousands of service men & woman being wounded,

Whereas this unjust war has further resulted in untold number of Iraqi deaths,

Whereas the Federal Government has not made any constructive moves towards the ending of this war and the full removal of US troops, and instead has taken the course of escalation and indefinite occupation,

Whereas the government of Vermont, and especially Governor Jim Douglas, have failed to find ways to bring Vermont National Guard troops home from Iraq,

Whereas this war will only be brought to an end by the direct actions of working people,

Therefore, Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO continues to stand in firm opposition to this war, and unequivocally supports the decision of the Longshore Caucus of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) to shutdown the west coast ports for a period of 24 hours, beginning on May 1st, 2008, as a means of resistance.

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO stands in full solidarity with the New York Metro National Association of Letter Carriers who have resolved to conduct two minute periods of silence on May 1st, 2008, at 1PM, 5PM & 9PM in protest of the war and in support of the Longshoremen.

Let It Be Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO encourages all Vermont workers to stand in solidarity with the historic actions being taken by the Longshoremen & other labor unions to end this war.

Let It Be Further Resolved that the Vermont AFL-CIO calls for all Vermont workers to discuss the actions of the Longshoremen, to wear anti-war buttons, and to take various actions of their own design and choosing in their workplace on May 1st, 2008 as a means of resistance against this unjust war."

David Van Deusen, District Vice President Vermont AFL-CIO stated that:

“Workers in Vermont and all across this nation are against this war. We have already demanded that the government end it, but they have consistently failed to heed our words. Therefore working people are beginning to take concrete steps to make our resistance known. If the war does not immediately end we, the unions and working people of Vermont, will also be compelled to take appropriate action.”

Traven Leyshon, President of the Washington, Lamoille & Orange County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, also stated that:

“Vermont labor has long called for an end to this war. The untold billions being spent on the war could instead be used to address our domestic needs. It is working people who pay the cost of the war - in some cases with our lives, but always with our sacrifices.”

The solidarity between Vermont AFL-CIO and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will mark a critical turning point in resistance against the War in Iraq.

On May 1st, 2008 union workers from across the country will bring attention to a war that has cost billions of dollars and millions of lives.

Contacts in Vermont for the Resolution:

David Van Deusen
District Vice President of the Vermont AFL-CIO
(802) 522-5812

Traven Leyshon
President of the Washington-Orange-Lamoille Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
(802) 522-3484