Labor

AAUMC calls upon labor unions in the US to support labor organizers imprisoned by the Egyptian Government, the second largest recipient of US foreign aid [$2 billion].

Members of the independent Textile Workers League: Kamal el-Fayoumi, Tarek Amin and blogger Kareem el-Beheiry were detained on the 6th of April during a two-day uprising by the urban poor and textile workers in the Nile Delta town of Mahalla, protesting the price increases of basic commodities. A strike was scheduled on that day to take place at Ghazl el-Mahalla, the largest textile mill in the Middle East and home to 27,000 workers, but was aborted by police troops occupying the factory. Peaceful demonstrations erupted in the town after the failure of the strike, and soon turned bloody with police opening fire on the protestors, killing at least three.

http://arabist.net/arabawy/2008/04/06/police-abort-mahalla-strike/

The Annual Naji Daifullah Award

SOMARTS ~ 934 BRANNAN ST. ~ SAN FRANCISCO
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2007 6:00-9:00PM

The Arab American Union Members Council (AAUMC) will be present the annual Nagi Daifullah Award during the 'PALESTINE/MEXICO: Unspoken Borders' event that is part of the larger 'Prophecy/Healing Time: Artists and Communities Respond to Global Crisis' show. This evening will features music, dance, spoken word, a slide show, food and more. We hope to see everyone there and really hope for a strong labor presence to honor the memory of Nagi Daifullah and carry on his legacy.
Arab American labor leader Nagi Daifullah and Cesar Chavez

"Non-Violence is our Strength..." Cesar Chavez

AAUMC Update on Iraq and Iraqi Oil Workers..

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

The following letter was sent to Congressional and Senatorial leaders by Leo Gerard, President of the United Steel Workers union. This union also represents the oil industry workers in the U.S.
Please share this develop with others.

July 31, 2007
VIA FAX

Honorable Carl Levin, Chairman
Honorable Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman
Honorable John McCain, Ranking Member
Honorable Michael B. Enzi, Ranking Member
Committee on Armed Services Comm. on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable Joe Biden, Jr., Chairman
Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman
Honorable Richard Lugar, Ranking Member
Honorable Ted Stevens, Ranking Member
Committee on Foreign Relations Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Subcommittee on Defense
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Honorable Patrick J. Leahy, Chairman

"Support this worldwide Divestment and Boycott Campaign Against Israel and Apartheid" appeals Palestinian Labor Leader in SF Speech.

Boycott

"We actually don't have any other way to exercise international pressure except calling our friends and supporters in the trade unions around the globe to call for this Boycott and Divestment." stated Manawel Issa Abdellal, member of the Executive Committee of the 250 thousand member Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) in a recent speech to union activists and labor movement supporters in San Francisco.

"Factories actually exist inside the settlements and their products are going to the markets in Europe and in the United States. The whole world is saying these settlements are actually illegal settlements. So why would it be wrong to boycott them?", he continued.

"My message to you as labor activists is to follow the lead of unions in Canada and Britain."