Public Employee Press

National union calls for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

DC 37's national union, AFSCME, has come out for "an immediate end to the wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan."

At its March meeting, the International Executive Board passed the anti-war resolution referred to it by AFSCME's convention in Boston last summer.

The 1.6 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees weighed in on the national debate about military policy in Afghanistan and Iraq with a vote to "support the troops, bring them home, and rebuild America."

The resolution explained: "We have already spent over $235 billion in Afghanistan and, even without the additional 30,000 troops, which will cost an additional $30 billion, our nation is now spending $65 billion a year on the war. These funds are desperately needed for urgent domestic, social purposes, including health care and quality education for all, housing relief in the foreclosure crisis, rebuilding the nation's infrastructure, full veterans' benefits, aid to city and state governments, and creating millions of good jobs, including manufacturing and green jobs."

Following the military surge in Afghanistan, American casualty rates have increased, with 610 of the 1,546 U.S. troop fatalities and 6,260 of the 11,110 total wounded hitting since 2009.

With the March vote, AFSCME joined national unions, including the Teachers and the Communications, Longshore and United Electrical Workers, as well as numerous locals in calling for an immediate end to the war or a firm timetable for withdrawal, with funds to be reallocated to domestic needs.