Al Benchich

Template:TOCnestleft Al Benchich

Anti Iraq war meeting

Almost 200 union activists filled United Auto Workers Local 600’s hall in Dearborn Michigan, to hear union leaders speak out against Bush’s war on Iraq. The panel included many leaders of union locals, leaders of the Michigan labor movement and leaders of international unions. It was moderated by Julie Hurwitz of the National Lawyers Guild.

Noel Beasley, international vice president of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, linked organizing opposition to Bush’s war to building a more powerful union movement. Beasley urged members to remind co-workers that “this is a war that will put working men and women on the front lines to get killed” – and to kill Iraqi men and women. “The real issue is the economy. It’s Bush’s fault and we’ve got to put the focus where it belongs,” he said.

Al Benchich, president of UAW Local 909, stated bluntly “We won’t be able to stop [this war] unless labor raises its mighty voice to stop it.” Benchich also emphasized the significance of being able to dialogue with those who may differ, especially with veterans.

“We firmly stand in opposition to Bush’s smokescreen,” concurred Millie Hall, president of the Detroit Chapter of Coalition of Labor Union Women, “that will end up in our sons and daughters being brought home in body bags.”

Hurwitz outlined some significant consequences of the USA PATRIOT Act and its proposed sequel, the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003. This law will broaden power of the authorities, reduce the ability of the public to oversea or challenge their power, redefine terrorism to include some action of union organizing, provide authorities with unprecedented power of domestic spying and wiretapping without judicial oversight, and define as terrorism any attempt to mobilize opposition to influence the government’s policies.

Following this chilling account, Mich. State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney added the Homeland Security Act stripped the collective bargaining rights of over 140,000 workers. “The drumbeat for war is a drumbeat for war on unions,” he said.

Elena Herrada, a cafeteria worker’s union leader, emphasized the drastic effects the Bush policies have had on Detroit’s public services.

“We have a moral obligation to speak out against this war,” UAW International Vice President Bob King stated. To succeed in building an effective movement, he said, “We have to engage others in dialogue and really try to understand where they are coming from.” Education is key. Disarmament “should be done through UN inspections,” he said. “It’s not a single war [the Bush administration] wants to lead,” King said, but a whole series of wars and actions to gain control of the Middle East’s resources.

DSA member

On December 10 2007, Democratic Socialists of America members joined community, religious, and labor leaders in observing International Human Rights Day. This day commemorates the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Among the rights codified in this document is the right of workers to form unions and bargain collectively.

Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America members Maurice Geary, Garie Bass, Paul Bass, Selma Goode, Steve Babson, Al Benchich, Bill Helwig, Dan McCarthy, David Green, Charlie Rooney, and Jean Dietrick Rooney commemorated this date by participating in a demonstration in front of Harper-Hutzel Hospital in support of the nurses of the Detroit Medical Center who were trying to form a union under the auspices of the Michigan Nurses Association.

Committee to Defend Diane Bukowski and Freedom of the Press

In 2009 Al Benchich was listed as a supporter of the Committee to Defend Diane Bukowski and Freedom of the Press

References

Template:Reflist