Steve
Stephen Philion Lecturer/PhD Candidate Department of Sociology 2424 Maile Way Social Sciences Bldg. # 247 Honolulu, HI 96822
On Thu, 18 May 2000, Doug Henwood wrote:
> [Bounced bec of an attachment. Nitpick: I'm not of Chinese descent
> and I found the chopstick remark distressing.]
>
> Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 17:29:27 -1000
> From: Stephen E Philion <philion at hawaii.edu>
> Subject: ILWU On China
>
>
> Recalling my appeal to would be maligners of the labor movement as a
> monolithic arm of US foreign policy.....
> Steve
>
> Subject: ILWU Position on China Trade
>
>
> International Longshore and Warehouse Union
> Thirty-first International Convention
> Portland, Oregon
> May 1 - 5, 2000 Resolution # R-39
>
> The ILWU, China and Human Rights
>
> WHEREAS: The labor movement has made defeat of the normal trade
> relations with China a major priority this year. The ILWU agrees with the
> goals of eradicating human rights abuses in China and the rest of the world
> and we urge all countries to adopt the core labor standards embodied in the
> International Labor Organization. The fight over trade with China should not
> overshadow or sidetrack the momentum built by the Seattle protest over
> globalization and the corporate-led exploitation of workers worldwide; and
>
> WHEREAS: The press reports of the Chinese government curtailing
> personal freedoms of speech, expression and association are deeply
> troubling; we do find that anti-China rhetoric is not helpful to the goal of
> promoting human rights. Racially-tinged pronouncements like "you've sold
> your last pair of chopsticks in any mall in America," spoken at a labor
> rally are indefensible and cause distress among all people of Chinese
> descent; and
>
> WHEREAS: Historically, the ILWU has always made its own assessments
> of the human rights conditions around the world, worked with individual
> workers, labor organizations, and human rights activists to make the world
> more just and peaceful. In the case of China, we need more independent
> knowledge to conclude that denying normal trade relations with that country
> is the best way to improve the conditions of workers in China and to enhance
> worker-to-worker relations between our two nations; THEREFORE BE IT
>
> RESOLVED: That the ILWU will continue its tradition of assisting
> workers throughout the world and reserving our right to take positions
> independent of the AFL-CIO on issues relating to foreign policy and trade;
> and BE IT FURTHER
>
> RESOLVED: That the ILWU believes the struggle for human rights
> worldwide requires a long-term commitment ; and BE IT FINALLY
>
> RESOLVED: That the ILWU will prioritize and prepare for a delegation
> of rank and file members to travel to China to make contact with trade
> unionists from China including government sanctioned unions as well as
> opposition leaders and report to the ILWU on recommendations for enhancing
> worker conditions and human rights in our two nations.
>