The working class has no interest in war. Only in a stable, secure, peaceful world can the ILWU, or any other union, hope to be able to fight for and win those improvements in the lives of the members to which the trade union movement is dedicated.

ILWU policies and actions on foreign affairs have always been built on the belief that international labor solidarity and world peace are the cornerstones of social and economic justice for all workers, including the membership of the ILWU.

The ILWU has a long and proud tradition of fighting for peace and opposing unjust wars—in the 1930s the ILWU blocked
the shipment of supplies to the rising fascist movements in Europe and Asia. After World War II the union opposed escalation of the arms race and the Cold War. In the 1960s the ILWU was the first union to stand up in opposition to U.S. military ntervention in Vietnam. In the 1970s the union took a stand against U.S. involvement in the overthrow and murder of democratically elected President Salvador Allende of Chile. In the 1980s the ILWU opposed the U.S. support of another
military dictatorship in El Salvador. In the 1990s and today, the ILWU said “No” to war in the Middle East.

As a union, we believe in negotiations to solve problems between workers and management. In the same way, we believe that
negotiations is the best way to solve problems between nations. At the same time, we believe the use of force or military
power may sometimes be necessary, but that force should be authorized or carried out by the United Nations and only to bring an end to aggression and to enforce the peace.

These views are clearly stated in the Declaration of Principles in the Constitution of ILWU Local 142 which calls for the union: “To join in the worldwide people’s movement against war and the causes of war, and to work for an enduring peace
maintained and protected by powerful international organizations dedicated to the elimination of fascism, war and aggression.”

These views are clearly stated in the Declaration of Principles in the Constitution of ILWU Local 142 which calls for the union: “To join in the worldwide people’s movement against war and the causes of war, and to work for an enduring peace
maintained and protected by powerful international organizations dedicated to the elimination of fascism, war and aggression.” country to be a good world citizen, not a bully and aggressor. A series of articles on pages 2 through 5 will help educate you on the issues of war and peace.

For more, see pages 2-5: War, a threat to freedom and democracy; Military spending dominates budget; Should unions take a position on foreign policy?

Hotel workers lose jobs in SARS panic

The world’s medical community appears to be winning the battle against SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Once it became known that the virus is spread by close person-to-person contact and appropriate precautions against infection were taken, very few secondary infections occurred and it was possible to stop the spread of the disease. Those who do contract SARS are actually less likely to die then people who catch the flu—the mortality rate for SARS is less than 6 percent while the mortality from flu for the United States is around 8 percent.

The actual probability of catchin SARS and dying is extremely low—it’s about the same odds as winning the jackpot on a slot machine.

Yet the fear of SARS is threatening the livelihood of thousands of hotel and other workers in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Toronto, Canada.

In Hong Kong, with 1,488 confirmed cases of SARS and 109 deaths, 60,000 hotel and restaurant workers have been laidoff as airlines cut flights and travelers cancel plans to visit the city. Tourist travel to Singapore with only 192 cases of SARS dropped by more than half in April. Most of the 140 SARS cases in Canada are in Toronto, where hotel workers are also losing jobs and work opportunity.

Thousands of hotel workers in Toronto, Canada, face longer unemployment and deep cuts in work opportunity as fear of SARS prompted travelers to cancel trips to the city. In Toronto, most hotels layoff workers over the winter and begin rehiring in March and April for the busier spring and summer seasons. However, because of SARS and the U.S. war on Iraq, visitor
counts for Toronto have dropped by over 20 percent and hotels have been cutting workers’ hours. About 60 percent of Toronto’s hotelworkers are unionized, members of Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees Union Local 75. Many of the laidoff hotelworkers will not be eligible to receive unemployment insurance because of a requirement to work at least 910 hours in the last 52 weeks or 655 hours for repeat claims.

According to an article by Michael Friscolanti in the National Post of Canada, the odds of catching SARS in Toronto and dying are about one in 292,681. Sixteen people out of a population of 4.68 million in the Greater Toronto Area have died of
SARS. If you’re a gambler, this is about the same odds as hitting the jackpot on a slot machine. According to Friscolanti, you are four times more likely to die of the flu and twice as likely to die from a dog bite—one in 142,279. In fact, a Toronto visitor
is 205 times more likely to killed in a car accident—one in 22,843.

Much of the panic over SARS and the economic hardships it has caused could have been avoided had people used common sense and normal precautions.

It appears that three best ways to prevent the spread of SARS (and a lot of other disease) is to stay home when you’re sick, cover your mouth when you cough, and wash your hands.

For more, see pages 6 & 7: SARS and your workplace, what you need to know; Guidelines and Infection control