Hands Off Venezuela

This letter was passed by the Executive Board of AFSCME Local 444 in Oakland CA yesterday. It is the same letter that Carpenters Local 713, Hayward CA passed.

AFSCME Local 444  believes that the foreign interests of Corporate America and those of ordinary working class people are not the same. Big business has always attempted to undermine the living standards of working people through its foreign policies. We believe our movement can be strengthened globally by fighting for higher pay and better conditions for all workers around the world.

In 2002 the Bush administration was implicated in the coup attempt against Venezeula's democratically elected government. Venezuela is one of the world's biggest producers of oil and its current government refuses to follow the dictates of the big US oil companies that have robbed American workers for so long. Local 444 opposes any moves by the Bush administration to overthrow or undermine the democratically elected government in Venezuela.
The US trade union movement should build direct links and solidarity with working class people and the genuine workers' unions in Venezuela and internationally for our common economic benefit.

In solidarity,

Reggie Moore
President, AFSCME Local 444
Oakland CA

Adopted by Local 444 Executive Board 5-5-05

cc Central Labor Council of Alameda County AFL-CIO

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