INTERNATIONAL APPEAL

No to War!
For the Defense of Public Education!

We, the undersigned unionists and activists in the public education sector in France and the United States, are issuing this appeal to promote and expand the building of the International Conference in Defense of Public Education, which will be held in Paris, France, on June 13-14, 2003.

On March 20, bombs began to rain down on the people of Baghdad in what is nothing but a war for oil and empire.

A recent document produced by the United Nations for the planning of humanitarian relief announces the expected outcomes of a U.S. campaign of bombing and invasion. These include:
- 500,000 civilian casualties;
- 2,000,000 people homeless;
- 10,000,000 people without enough to eat
- 18,000,000 without access to clean water; and more than 1,000,000 children under the age of 5, at risk of death from malnutrition.

Iraq, once a prosperous country, has been decimated and bled dry by a U.S.-led military invasion in 1991 and by 12 years of sanctions imposed by the United Nations that have resulted in the deaths of 1.6 million people, including more than 500,000 children. Now the situation will turn even bleaker, George W.'s promises of a rosy future under a U.S. protectorate notwithstanding.

Bush's "shock and awe" invasion is aimed at terrorizing the Iraqi people and carving up the Iraqi nation into three or more different "ethnically-based territories," all under foreign military occupation, the better to take over the country's rich oil resources.
We, who are teachers and public education activists, have demonstrated in the streets along with millions of people the world over to shout out in one voice: "Stop this unjust and immoral war against the people of Iraq!" We have supported the campaigns and initiatives of U.S. Labor Against the War , which has taken the lead in mobilizing opposition to this war within the global trade union movement.

Expressing the overwhelming will of the majority of the world's population, we call for military action to cease and desist immediately so that American and British troops can be removed from harm's way and brought safely home -- and to spare the Iraqi people more death, destruction and suffering.

We pledge to redouble our efforts to bring this heinous war to an end by demonstrating in mass, peaceful protests. We know that it is not just the Iraqi people who are targeted by the U.S. government. If we don't stop this mad military machine, other peoples in the region -- and beyond -- will be subjected to this same fate. We also know that the war abroad -- Bush's "endless war" -- will be used to justify stepping up the war on workers' rights and living standards in our own countries.

Take a look at what is happening in France:

On March 17, 2003, the French Constitution was modified. Basic principles rooted in the French Revolution and the Declaration of Universal Human Rights, according to which all laws and rights must apply equally to all who live in French territory, have been attacked. These are laws that working people mobilized around to win its major social conquests.

With this new "regionalization" offensive now enshrined in the modified Constitution, the unity of the French Republic is being dismantled. The goal is to break up the unity of the nation to better implement the destructive, anti-worker plans of the European Union.

In the past, French workers had the same rights wherever they lived. They had the same rights to the same public services: quality and free universal healthcare, postal service, transportation, electricity, etc. -- and the same access to quality public education. Through the aegis of this "regionalization" offensive, all sorts of "deregulation" measures will be permitted, thereby establishing different rights for citizens based on their regions. This is a deadly machine aimed at dismantling all the social conquests wrested through struggle by French working people immediately after World War II.

The first consequence will be that 150,000 civil service workers -- 110,000 of whom are custodians, cafeteria workers, counselors and nurses in the public schools -- will lose their civil-service status. This heralds the planned termination of the national character of public education, the regression of education as such, and the end of national diplomas and qualifications recognized in collective-bargaining agreements and statutes. It is also the green light to the privatization of entire sectors of public education.

While funding for the military increases exponentially, major cuts in funding for public services are being announced. Public servants in all sectors are told to expect massive layoffs. All positions lost to retirement, moreover, will not be replaced. The French Ministry of Education has announced that to accommodate the fewer teachers and education workers, the number of class hours per year will be reduced. This means that the right to an education is under intensified assault. The future of our youth is being sacrificed on the altar of financial markets, themselves in deep crisis.

All these plans are being implemented via the specific directives of the European Union, which, in the name of reducing the budget deficits, is spearheading the privatization of public services. The EU is promoting the so-called "informal and non-formal" education systems -- that is, workplace training sessions in factories and offices, and other forms of "real-life" education. All devalue the right to instruction and the acquisition of knowledge and skills for critical thought.
It is the European Union which, in the name of promoting the "flexibility of the labor force" and seeking a "competitive edge," is pushing to dismantle the national systems of universal healthcare, social security and retirement. It is the EU that is pushing to dismantle the nations and to create a Europe of regions -- which will only sow divisions among peoples along ethnic or religious lines, such as occurred in the Balkans.

It is within this EU framework that the French government, like all the governments of Europe, is proceeding to implement these destructive policies. It is also in this framework that they seek to coopt the trade unions into functioning as their agents in the application of this brutal assault on workers' rights and working conditions.

Take a look at what is happening in the United States:

The powers-that-be in Washington have no problem finding and spending well over $200 billion for a criminal war in Iraq. Money can be found for war, but not for education and other vitally necessary social services.

Already under the pretext of "homeland security," Bush and Ridge have withdrawn collective-bargaining rights for tens of thousands of federal workers organized in unions and have declared airport security workers ineligible for unionization. The roundup and deportation of immigrant workers certainly has a chilling effect on their ability to organize. And now that the war has begun, "patriotic" pressure is being brought to bear on any "selfish" union workers trying to protect their jobs and living standards during war.

Across the country, states are facing major budget crises. In fact, state budgets are facing the worst crisis since World War II. Massive budget deficits now threaten both public employees and the quality government services that they provide -- like education and healthcare. This year alone, state budget deficits are expected to reach a nationwide total of some $76 billion, according to a recent estimate made by the American Federation of Teachers. California's deficit alone is almost half of this nationwide total.

One example from California and its community college system will illustrate the extent of the new and deepening attacks on teachers and students.

Because of the estimated $35 billion budget deficit in California, Governor Gray Davis proposed on January 10, 2003, to cut the California community college system budget for 2003-04 by around 10.5%, that is, by around $530 million. At the same time, he proposed raising tuition from $11 to $25 a unit. This would mean that more than 206,000 mainly working class students in California would be denied access to a community college.

What is happening in France and the United States is, of course, happening with even greater force around the world.

We, the undersigned, reaffirm our support for the Call for the International Conference in Defense of Public Education that was issued by teacher unionists from 13 countries.
This initiative is not in competition with any existing union federation or campaign. The goal is not to build a new education organization, but rather to exchange information and experience and to help better organize the fightback in defense of workers' rights and conditions.

The goal is to promote effective action by teacher unionists and education activists against the war.

The goal is to draw up a comprehensive Act of Accusation against all who seek to destroy public education.

The goal is to promote a wide-ranging discussion, respecting the diversity of our different points of view, to oppose deregulation and privatization.

The goal is to defend the existence of independent trade union organizations, which are threatened by all the plans of integration and assimilation into NGOs, with the aim of making them the relays for the implementation of the policies of the WTO, IMF, World Bank, EU, and all the international financial institutions -- all in the name of forging a consensus, through an allegedly democratic participatory process, of all "civil society."

- No to Privatization!
- No to Deregulation!
- Defense of Collective-Bargaining Agreements and Civil Service Statutes! Defense of the Systems of Social Protection!
- Defense of Public Services, Beginning with the Defense of Public Education!
- No to War! No Blood for Oil!
- Money for Schools, Healthcare and Public Services!

The unity of working people the world over will forge the road to peace.

We invite you to join with us in organizing this International Conference Against War and in Defense of Public Education and sending your delegates to this gathering.

***Æ I ENDORSE THIS APPEAL
[   ]  Please add my name to the list of endorsers of this appeal.
[   ]  I pledge $ ___  to the Conference Fund Drive. I will write out my check to OWC and mail it to OWC, San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO), 1188 Franklin St. #203, San Francisco, CA 94109NAME                                             
UNION
CITY/STATE
TEL.
EMAIL
(Please fill out this form and return it to <ilcinfo@earthlink.net> by March 26.)
********************
INITIAL SIGNATORIES FROM THE UNITED STATES

(unions listed for id. only)

Andy Griggs
UTLA 1021
Los Angeles, Calif.

Terry Allan Elverum
CFT Oakland
Oakland, Calif.

Alexandra Teague
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

James McKinney
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

Allan Fisher
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

Ardena Sprinkle
AFT 1931
San Diego, Calif.

Sam Frankel
BFT 1078
Berkeley, Calif.

Fred Glass
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

Alisa Messer
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

Bob Mandel
AFT 771
Oakland, Calif.

Bessie Citrin
BFT 1078
Berkeley, Calif.

Marc Rich
UTLA 1021
Los Angeles, Calif.

Steven Shapiro
UESF
San Francisco, Calif.

Susan Archulette
BFT 1078
Berkeley, Calif.

Donald Brown
AFT1388

Thomas W. Edminster
UESF
San Francisco, Calif.

Alicia Moldstad
ABC AFT Local 2317

Greg Eddy
AFT
Sacramento, Calif.

 

Forrest Nixon
AFT 957
San Jose, Calif.

Dorothy Gilles
AFT 420
St. Louis, MO

Sonia Gill
BFT 1078
Berkeley, Calif.

Rodger Scott
AFT 2121
San Francisco, Calif.

Zev Kvitky
SEIU Local 715
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Karen MacLeod                           
American Federation of Teachers
San Francisco, Calif.

Laura Kennell                             
Special School Dist., NEA
St. Louis, MO

Diana Bohn
Peralta Federation of Teachers
Berkeley, Calif.

Marc Wutschke
AFT Local 1021
United Teachers of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

Elizabeth Davis
Washington Teachers Union Local 6
Mitchellville, Md.

Claude Piller
AFSCME Local 1336
Portland State Univ.
Portland, Oregon

Electa Arenal
CUNY/Graduate Center
New York, New York

Ken Tray
United Educators of San Francisco
San Francisco, Calif.

Frank Emspak
Wisconsin Federation of Teachers/AFT
Madison, Wisc.

Lita Blanc
United Educators of San Francisco
San Francisco, Calif.

Renate Bridenthal
Chair, International Committee
Professional Staff Congress, AFT
New York, N.Y.

Bob Grill
Peralta Federation of Teachers
East Bay, Calif.

Katharine Harer
AFT Local 1493
San Mateo, Calif

Dan Kaplan
AFT Local 1493
San Mateo, Calif.

Judy Wishnia
SUNY Stony Brooks Univ. Workers
Stony Brook, N.Y.

Bill Taxerman
United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA)
Los Angeles, Calif.

Jonathan Garfield
AFT 279
Cleveland, Ohio

James Hamilton
AFT 420
St. Louis, MO
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INITIAL SIGNATORIES FROM FRANCE

Paul Barbier, education unionist (Maine-et-Loire)
Joël Josselin, education unionist (Ille-et-Vilaine)
Jacky Bara, education unionist (Deux-Sèvres)
Denis Gomez, education unionist (Alpes-Maritimes)
Laurent Segalant, education unionist (Gers)
Delarue Jean (Yvelines)
N'Diaye Jean, LP Villeneuve Saint Georges (Val-de-Marne)
Barrois Jean-Pierre, education unionist, Université de Paris XII
Hubert Raguin, education unionist (Maine-et-Loire)
Jean-Marc Bouchet, AFPA (Indre-et-Loire)
Marie-Edmonde Brunet, education unionist (Paris)
Jean-Louis Hobel, education unionist, Université de Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin)
Michel Tauvry, education unionist (Pas-de-Calais)
François Chaintron, education unionist (Haut-de-Seine)
Jack Lefèvre, education unionist (Yvelines)
Michel Lefebvre, education unionist (Seine-Saint-Denis)
Edith Danry, education unionist (Côte-d'Or)
Jean-Jacques Belliah, education unionist (Rhône)
Pierre Belloir, education unionist
Jacques Paris, education unionist (Loire-Atlantique)
Cécile Muffragi, education unionist (Corse)
Christophe Benoît, education unionist (Gard)
Fabrice Monnot, education unionist (Haut-Rhin)
Thierry Montanus (Martinique)
Jean-Claude Lamarche (Isère)
Franck Dartiailh (Martinique)
Hubert Whitechurch, university professor (Bas-Rhin)
Bernard Chevreau, university professor (Gironde)
Patrick Hamard, education unionist (Maine-et-Loire)
Donna Kesselman, education unionist, Université Paris X
Jean Dubessis, research director, CNRS (Meurthe-et-Moselle)
Daniel Lescaudron, teacher (Paris)
Le Tuhaut Patrick, educator (Paris)
Nicole Letourneur (Haut-de-Seine)
Laurence Laffont, education unionist (Haut-de-Seine)
Françoise Enet, (Charente maritime)
Fabienne Van Rompaey, school director (Seine-et-Marne)
Patrick Coustard, education unionist (Indre-et-Loire)
Jean-Paul Crouzet, instituteur (Rhône)
Stéphane Julien (Calvados).
 

 

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