From opposition to action: Transforming antiwar sentiment into antiwar action by union members

U.S. Labor Against the War is a network of more than 180 labor organizations, that together represent more than four million union members. Founded in January, 2003, USLAW has mobilized union members to participate in numerous antiwar demonstrations, involved them in lobbying Congress, and organized them to support the labor movement and working people of Iraq . USLAW has played an important role in broadening the base of popular sentiment against the occupation of Iraq so that today it is the majority view in the U.S.

As a cofounder and national leader of USLAW, Michael Eisenscher has been at the center of its activities. He will describe the education-for-action approach USLAW has employed to build popular opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan occupations, and the efforts of the organization within the labor movement to put a human face on the suffering of the Iraqi people. His presentation will include a powerful slide show entitled "The Real Price of Military Occupation." He will describe how popular economics education has been employed to encourage opponents of U.S. foreign policy and military intervention to take concrete actions to change those policies. He will describe opportunities for collaboration between USLAW and the antiwar public health community.