April 8 DC Press Conference At AFL-CIO & April 9 DC Educational Conference-
On The 20th Anniversary of the Attempted Coup In Venezuela (April 8, 2002)No Government Dollars for AFL-CIO Solidarity Center!
Open The Books! Transparency Now!
Press Conference
What: Open The Books, Transparency, & No Government Dollars for AFL-CIO Solidarity Center!
When: 12 Noon, Friday, April 8, 2022
Where: AFL-CIO HQ, 815 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Please wear masks and observe social distancing
LEPAIO (Labor Education Project on AFL-CIO International Operations) Educational Meeting
What: Panel Discussion and Dialogue (Zoom link available on the website – https://aflcio-int.education)
When: Saturday, April 9, 2022, 2:00 PM-6:00 PM EST
Where: University of the District of Columbia, Windows Lounge in Building #38 (adjacent to Student Center in Building #56 and overlooking Conn. Ave.), 4200 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC
How to arrive: Van Ness Metro stop on Red Line; garage parking available
Please wear masks and observe social distancing
Sponsored by: Labor Education Project on AFL-CIO International Operations (LEPAIO) https://aflcio-int.education, info@aflcio-int.education
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: Thomas O’Rourke, 202-365-7297
On The 20th Anniversary of the Attempted Coup in Venezuela on April 8, 2022, at 12:00 noon, we will be having a press conference in front of the AFL-CIO.
We will call for the opening of the books, and for the AFL-CIO membership to reject the funding of the international operations by the US government-funded National Endowment For Democracy and other US government agencies.
We demand
• Cease U.S. Government interference in the U.S. labor movement’s international policies
• Reject $75 Million funding for the AFL-CIO’s “Solidarity Center” from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and quit collaborating with the US government
• Full transparency now on AFL-CIO – U.S. backroom ties. Open the books!
While allegedly exporting “democracy” to labor movements abroad, the AFL-CIO refuses to disclose its funding, operations, and affiliations to its own members, thereby undermining union democracy in the U.S. trade union movement. This must cease!
The AFL-CIO, in collaboration with the CIA, the U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) works to suppress progressive unions and social movements, and to overthrow progressive governments around the world on behalf of the trans-national corporate agenda.
Such was the case in Venezuela during the failed coup against the popularly elected government led by Hugo Chavez in 2002, in which the AFL-CIO’s Solidarity Center was implicated.
In other countries like Guatemala (1954), Brazil (1964), Chile (1973), and Argentina (1976), the AFL-CIO was “successful” in helping to usher in military dictatorships which savaged their labor and social movements from which it has taken decades to recover. Many progressive leaders have been slain in the process meaning the AFL- CIO has blood on its hands. The Federation continues today to support American government “sanctions” that harm workers and their families throughout the world.
The US trade union movement is crippled by these ac- activities and by the AFL-CIO’s refusal to allow members, journalists, and researchers from getting access to documents involving its international activities.
The AFL-CIO must be held accountable by opening its books now!
Please watch the videos of the presentations at the conference below