MISSION STATEMENT
U.S. Labor Against Racism and War (USLARW, formerly U.S. Labor Against the War) represents labor organizations that seek to demilitarize our economy and build our labor movement toward international solidarity across borders. Solving disputes by diplomacy rather than war, respecting national sovereignty and the right of self-determination for all peoples, and public education on international issues and the domestic impact of racism and militarism are our principles. The United States government has engaged in decades-long wars against the interests of the working class, while many poor and working people go without adequate healthcare, clean water, strong public schools, stable retirements, and good union jobs in the richest country in the world.
Militarism abroad also means militarism at home as working class neighborhoods face daily violence at the hands of militarized police. People of color, immigrants, and Native Americans are often targeted by militarized police, yet these issues are rarely talked about as an expansion of the military-industrial complex. The relationship between racist military campaigns abroad and racist military-style state violence against poor and working class communities is one struggle for our labor movement.
True security for workers means having the right to collective bargaining and winning agreements that protect and advance our members’ pay, benefits, job protection, and other terms and conditions of employment. The right to live free from the effects of racism, militarization, and ecological devastation is what all working people deserve.
U.S. Labor Against Racism and War fights to protect its members and livelihoods of working people everywhere by organizing, educating and mobilizing the labor movement according to the following basic principles:
OUR PRINCIPLES
A Just Foreign Policy that brings genuine security and prosperity to working people based on a demilitarized economy and foreign policy; strengthens international treaties, supports human rights, respects national sovereignty and upholds the right of self-determination for all peoples; solves disputes by diplomacy rather than war; promotes global economic and social justice rather than the race-to-the-bottom, job-destroying, discriminatory practices favored by multinational corporations.
Protecting Workers’ Rights, Racial Justice, and the Rights of Immigrants by fighting the “divide-and-conquer” class inequity. Ethnic, racial and religious discrimination must be replaced by policies that do not leave our most vulnerable workers behind. As the lines blur between militarism against communities abroad and civilian law-enforcement at home, economic justice and respect for all working people is our duty.
An End to U.S. Occupation of Foreign Countries, replaced by reparations and the reconstruction of war-devastated nations with the full support of the international community and the full participation and decision-making power of affected peoples.
Demilitarizing U.S. Foreign Policy, pursuing a just transition to an environmentally sustainable economy, and redirecting the nation’s resources from inflated military spending to meeting the needs of working people for jobs, health care, education, a clean environment, housing and a decent standard of living based on principles of equity and democracy.
Supporting Our Troops and their Families by bringing the troops home now, by not recklessly putting them in harm’s way and by providing decent compensation, veterans’ benefits and domestic policies administered without discrimination that prioritize the needs of working people who make up the bulk of the military.
Solidarity With Workers and their Organizations Around the World who are struggling for their own labor and human rights, and with those in the U.S. who want U.S. foreign and domestic policies to reflect our nation’s highest ideals.
WE PURSUE THESE OBJECTIVES AS U.S. LABOR AGAINST RACISM AND WAR.