Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid press release on the letterhead of AFSCME Council 31. The press release says local labor unions have called a massive noontime protest in Chicago on Friday, March 18 at Calder Plaza, Dearborn and Jackson, to demand that South Africa's apartheid government free jailed union leaders and stop its crackdown on labor and anti-apartheid groups. The press release says speaking at the 12:00 noon rally will be Chicago Federation of Labor President Robert Healey; William Lucy, international secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Phillip Immesote, international vice president of the Food and Commercial Workers;...
Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid press release on the letterhead of AFSCME Council 31. The press release says local labor unions have called a massive noontime protest in Chicago on Friday, March 18 at Calder Plaza, Dearborn and Jackson, to demand that South Africa's apartheid government free jailed union leaders and stop its crackdown on labor and anti-apartheid groups. The press release says speaking at the 12:00 noon rally will be Chicago Federation of Labor President Robert Healey; William Lucy, international secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Phillip Immesote, international vice president of the Food and Commercial Workers; Rev. George Clements; Ald. Danny Davis; and Johnnie Jackson, head of the Coalition of Labor Union Women. The press release says a march to the new South African Consulate, located at 200 S. Michigan, will immediately follow the Calder Plaza demonstration. The press release says the march will be led by Bill Stewart, Region 4 director of the United Auto Workers; Jack Parton, District 31 director of the United Steel Workers; Cong. Charles Hayes; Aldermen Davis, Roman Pucinski and Allen Streeter; and other labor, political and clergy leaders. The press release says dozens of local unions will participate in the March 18 demonstration which is sponsored by the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid; the labor network is a newly-formed action coalition headed by 15 local labor leaders; the network was instigated in part by the current trials of South African union leaders on charges of "treason and subversion"; Chicago's City Council condemned the trials and declared March 18 "A Day of Solidarity with South African Trade Unionists." The press release says the white government's most recent crackdown banned all activities by 17 anti-apartheid groups, including the 800,000 - member Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). The press release says for further information call Kathy Devine or Debbie Lain.
