African Activist Archive

The report says the Illinois Labor Network Against Apartheid (ILNAA) was formed in late 1987, inspired largely by the solidarity of the strike of 300,000 South African mineworkers; its purpose is to educate and activate local unions on behalf of South African unions and against apartheid. The report says its action program is threefold: (1) Solidarity, (2) Sanctions and (3) Responsible Disinvestment and the Shell Boycott. The report says ILNAA has sponsored educational programs, rallies and petition campaigns; hosted South African union and community leaders; worked on the "Free Moses Mayekiso Campaign"; mobilized support for Comprehensive, Mandatory Economic Sanctions. The report says ILNAA is governed by a Steering Committee composed of more than two dozen representatives of local union affiliates in Illinois. The report says a Steering Committee was formed, Johnnie Jackson asked to also chair the Network, and other labor leaders asked to co-chair; approximately 35 union affiliates were asked to select representatives for the Steering Committee, as well as the President of the Chicago Committee in Solidarity with Southern Africa (CCISSA). The report says action on American National Bank resulted in their agreement to vote a million shares of Shell stock as part of the Shell Boycott shareholders action. The report discusses Johnnie Jackson, the Chicago Chapter of Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW); Jack Parton, the United Steelworkers of America; Bill Stewart, the United Auto Workers (UAW), Kathleen Devine, Harold Rogers, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist (CBTU), the New York Labor Committee Against Apartheid, Jack Parton, USWA (United Steelworkers of America), Bill Stewart, the Nikko Hotel, petitions, Moses Mayekiso, the South African Ambassador's first visit to the Midwest, political prisoners, a Sharpeville demonstration, the crackdown on democratic opposition groups. COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions), the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU), UMWA (United Mine Workers of America), Richard Trumka, resolutions, State AFL-CIO, CFL, the Soweto Day Walkathon, Mobil Oil, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, South African Women's Day, the Defiance Campaign, Nelson Mandela, Chicago-Alexandra Sister Community Project, the Nelson and Winnie Mandela U.S. freedom tour, the Chicago City Council, Maremont Corp ., Gabriel Shock Absorbers, local unions, and a labor rally at UAW Local 551.

African Activist Archive

BACKGROUND OF THE ILLINOIS LABOR NETWORK AGAINST APARTHEID

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE NETWORK 1987-1990

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