Unions to Campaign Against Workplace Racism

A public campaign against racism in the workplace has emerged as a key plank of the NSW union movement's response to the terrorist attacks in the US and military action arising out of it.

A meeting of affiliates in Sydney passed a resolution condemning the attacks and urging a targeted and restrained response from the US and the international community. Unions also agreed to take a leadership role in addressing racist attacks on Muslim workers in the wake of the events in New York and Washington. The unions resolved to develop a public campaign, which will include advertising and campaign materials.

The PSA has endorsed this resolution.

Full Labor Council Resolution on US Attacks

1. Labor Council condemns the attacks upon the US on September 11 that lead to a tragic loss of life.

2. We express our sympathies to all those who have suffered a loss as a consequence. 

3. We condemn all acts of terrorism, whether state sanctioned or the actions of individuals or small groups, as indefensible. Labor Council reaffirms that terrorism has no place in our civilisation and reassert our commitment to combat the poverty and injustice that all too often provide unwitting recruits for the armies of the intolerant. 

4. Labor Council calls for a calm and measured response to the attacks and seeks that a peaceful resolution to the terrorist threat be the primary objective. 

5. Such response must not only seek to find those responsible for these acts of terrorism but to ensure that justice within the rule of law, not retaliation is the key objective. 

6. The Labor Council reaffirms our condemnation of racially motivated attacks on Arabic and Islamic communities in Australia. We call on the international community not to allow the September 11 atrocity to increase hatred, racial and religious intolerance. We encourage our national leaders to view this as an opportunity to work with the UN, an international community, in its search for peaceful solutions to conflicts. 

7. We add our voices to those people around the world who recognise that true security can only be obtained through social, economic and environmental justice. 

8. In terms of longer term stability in the Middle East we welcome the statement by US President Bush recognising the need for an independent Palestinian state to coexist with the state of Israel. 

9. The Labor Council of NSW will actively involve itself in campaigns and public forums in pursuit of the above objectives. 

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