CTU Requests Meeting With US Ambassador

The Council of Trade Unions has asked US Ambassador Charles Swindells to receive a delegation from the CTU’s 34 affiliated unions to express concerns over the increasingly worrying Iraq situation, and the implications for workers.

“I have written to Mr Swindells on behalf of more than 300,000 working New Zealanders who are members of CTU affiliated unions,” said Ross Wilson.

“the letter conveys the concern and alarm workers have at the daily statements by President Bush and other US leaders, suggesting that the United States will take unilateral military action against Iraq outside any United Nations mandate and in apparent disregard of international law.”

Ross Wilson noted that all New Zealanders condemned the terrorism and grieved for the victims.

“However it is bitterly ironical that we now face a situation where, as part of the U. S. Government’s ‘war against terror’, it intends to ignore our only world governance institution, breach international law and, in the face of overwhelming opposition from world opinion, take military action against Iraq which will inevitably result in the loss of many more innocent lives,” said Ross Wilson.

Ross Wilson said the Council of Trade Unions supported the strengthening and implementation of treaties and conventions for the elimination of all nuclear, chemical and biological weapons through United Nations processes.

The CTU also supports mandated international inspection of all countries developing and producing weapons of mass destruction.

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