SEIU District 1199 New Connections Network

WHEREAS, at our last International Union convention in May of 2004, in San Francisco, our delegates unanimously adopted a strong resolution opposing the US led invasion of Iraq, and calling for the withdrawl of US troops; and

WHEREAS, at the same time we strongly support our soldiers – the men and women risking their lives in Iraq – who come from America’s working families. They are our son’s and daughter’s, our sisters and brothers, our husbands and wives. They are co-workers and members of our Union. To date more than 3,000 of them have already died and more than 20,000 have been wounded, many of whom will be disabled for life; and

WHEREAS, tens of thousands of Iraqi civilans have been killed since 2003 – 36,000 last year alone; and

WHEREAS, the American people sent a strong and clear message in last November’s elections that a majority of us are opposed to this war, and believe it is time to begin to bring our troops home now; and

WHEREAS, in recent weeks President Bush and his Administration has instead announced plans for a significant escalation of troops and plans to seek an additional $160 billion to fund this escalation and continuation of the war, with no plan for how resolve this conflict or begin to bring our troops home; and

WHEREAS, on January 11, 2007 our International Union President Andrew L. Stern, joined the call in opposition to this proposed escalation stating, in part “the decision by President Bush is the wrong direction, the wrong judgement, and is a step backwards that puts our brave soldiers in greater danger. It is time to begin to allow the Iraqis to take over the future of their country and begin to bring our troops home.”; and

WHEREAS, at this very moment as we are meeting here today, in our Nation’s Capitol, thousands of our fellow American’s are marching in the streets, just blocks from here calling on Congress to put an end to this madness;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the SEIU International Executive Board join our International Union President in opposing any escalation of US troops in Iraq, and to call on Congress to take the leadership necessary, including opposing additional funding, as long as we protect our troops while they remain in Iraq, in order to begin the process of ending this war and bringing our troops home now.
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