The press release says a spirited rally will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 to call attention to the increasing attacks on trade unions by South Africa's apartheid government; the rally will take place at the clothing and textile workers union; the keynote speaker will be Richard Trumka, International President of the United Mine Workers, the sister union of South Africa's largest black trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers; joining Trumka at the podium will be local political and labor leaders including Congressman Charles Hayes, Bill Stewart of the auto workers union, and Rosetta Daylie of the state, county and municipal employees union, as well as Rev. Elmer Fowler, Pastor of the Third...
The press release says a spirited rally will be held Saturday, Nov. 19 to call attention to the increasing attacks on trade unions by South Africa's apartheid government; the rally will take place at the clothing and textile workers union; the keynote speaker will be Richard Trumka, International President of the United Mine Workers, the sister union of South Africa's largest black trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers; joining Trumka at the podium will be local political and labor leaders including Congressman Charles Hayes, Bill Stewart of the auto workers union, and Rosetta Daylie of the state, county and municipal employees union, as well as Rev. Elmer Fowler, Pastor of the Third Baptist Church of Chicago. The press release says the rally is sponsored by the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid, a labor coalition organized early in 1988 to support South African trade unionists; in recent years the militant trade union movement in South Africa has moved to the forefront of the opposition to the apartheid system; in response to labor's increasing role in anti-apartheid efforts, the Botha government has this year cracked down on labor's activities. The press release says the Illinois Labor Network, based in Chicago, is part of a growing network of U.S. unions who are mobilizing support for South Africa's unions; Saturday's rally will focus on the situation in South Africa, and what can be done to support South African unions; stronger sanctions against South Africa are one goal of the network; another goal is to take action against those oil companies who violate the United Nations' ban on oil to South Africa; Royal Dutch/Shell, the parent company of Shell Oil is a prime target; Trumka is co-chair of the national Shell Boycott Campaign. The press release says for further information call Kathy Devine.
