Unions join rally for peace

The newly-formed group Portland Labor for Peace and Justice was one of 91 co-sponsors of a massive March 15 rally for peace in the Middle East at Portland's Waterfront Park. The march occurred two days before President George W. Bush announced a 48-hour countdown to war with Iraq.

An estimated 50 labor union members and 100 others gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square to form a labor contingent, and then marched behind the banner "Labor for Peace" to join the larger gathering. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Oregon Council 75 Executive Director Ken Allen spoke at the pre-rally and also delivered a labor message to the main rally at Waterfront Park. Estimates of the crowd ranged from 14,000 to 45,000.

The national AFL-CIO Executive Board and more than 200 labor organizations, including union locals, central labor councils, and international union executive boards have passed resolutions critical of a unilateral U.S. attack on Iraq. Locally, those include AFSCME Local 88, Service Employees Local 49, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Locals 5 and 8, and the Marion, Polk, Yamhill, Counties Central Labor Council.

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