Trade Unionists Denounce U.S. Proxy War in Ukraine

By Fighting Words Staff

An ad-hoc committee of trade unionists has issued a strong denunciation against the U.S./NATO proxy war in Ukraine. Taking advantage of a gathering of thousands of labor union activists at a Chicago conference, the statement of the Labor Committee Against the U.S. Proxy War in Ukraine was widely distributed from June 17 to 19. Hundreds of copies were handed out over the three day event, generating quite a few discussions on this important issue.

A number of concerned trade unionists immediately asked to be added to the growing list of endorsers. Others went online during the conference to the web site to add their names.

The initiative is a striking repudiation of the hysterical, pro-war, anti-Russia propaganda promoted by the  corporate media which has penetrated and ensnared much of the progressive movement in the United States. Members of the Labor Committee Against the U.S. Proxy War in Ukraine reported that the response was much better than they had expected.

This is the full text of this important document:

Say NO! to the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine

Labor’s War is Here at Home!

The Democrats and Republicans in Congress and President Biden in the White House have approved $50 Billion in military aid to the Ukrainian government. Many tens of billions more were sent to Ukraine since the CIA and State Department overthrew their government in a 2014 coup. Since then ultra-right and pro-Nazi militias have been incorporated into the Ukrainian military.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated publicly that the goal of the war is to “weaken Russia.” The United States government is willing to fight this war to the “last drop of Ukrainian blood.” The U.S. also wants to install NATO military bases, U.S. troops, heavy weapons and missiles right on Russia’s border and engineer a pro-U.S. regime change in Moscow.

The war and sanctions against Russia are causing a food crisis around the world as well as here in the U.S.

Congress is quick to act to fatten the military contractors at the same time we have no baby formula and millions don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Poor and working people are suffering a 10% pay cut due to record inflation.

Workers’ rights and voting rights, the foundation of “democracy,” are ignored and threatened. The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and the Women’s Health Protection Act cannot get any Congressional action.

We demand an immediate end to the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine. Money for housing, health care and education, not war abroad.

Active and retired union members and officers who wish to sign on to the statement can do so at LaborAgainsttheWar.net and can reach the organizers at contact@laboragainstthewar.net.