U.S. Labor's Anti-war Tradition

Anti-war activity in today's American unions is rooted in a tradition that dates from before the Civil War. Here are some highlights.

Anti-war Labor in the 1800s

Workers in New York opposed the Mexican War (1846-1848) as an effort to expand the slave owners' power. Further north, members of the New England Workingmen's Association vowed to "not take up arms to sustain the Southern slaveholder."

In the mid-1890s, the U.S. and Britain almost went to war over a Venezuela Boundary Dispute. Samuel Gompers said, "Who would be compelled to bear the burden of war? The working people. They would pay the taxes and their blood would flow like water." Century Magazine said armed conflict had been avoided largely because of "the action of trades' unions on both sides of the Atlantic."

Both the Knights of Labor and the American Federation of Labor opposed the Annexation of Hawaii (1898). The American Federationist declared, "Behind this cry for glory there exists real danger to the liberties of our citizens."

Many labor unions in the U.S. were opposed to the Spanish American War (1898). As Eugene Debs said, "There are thousands who are not swept from their feet by the war craze. They realize that war is national murder, that the poor furnish the victims and that whatever the outcome may be, the effect is always the same upon the toiling class."

First World War (1914-1918)

"Obviously those who profit from the war should pay for it... How can profits be made out of the war? The answer to this question is: by selling to the government those things which are needed to keep the war going... Now, Mr. Common Man, do you own any of these things? If you don't, then you cannot profit from the war. Then you ought to see to it that the government confiscates all profits made out of the war to carry on the war. Let the government take 100% and peace will come."

"The present war is for markets... imperial and commercial supremacy."

"They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command. But in all the history of the world... no war by any nation in any age has ever been declared by the people."

"I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world."

"Being a pacifist between wars is as easy as being a vegetarian between meals."

"I'm not disturbing the peace. I'm disturbing the war."

"As representatives of the organized working class, we declare the European war to be an international crime and a horror for which there is no parallel in savagery."

"Congress is not preparing to defend the people of the United States. It is planning to protect the capital of American speculators and investors."

"Every modern war has had its root in exploitation. The Civil War was fought to decide whether the slaveholders of the South or the capitalists of the North should exploit the West. The Spanish-American War decided that the United States should exploit Cuba and the Philippines. The South African War decided that the British should exploit the diamond mines. The Russo-Japanese War decided that Japan should exploit Korea. The present war is to decide who shall exploit the Balkans, Turkey, Persia, Egypt, India, China, Africa... Now, the workers are not interested in the spoils; they will not get any of them anyway."

"All class conscious members of the Industrial Workers of the World are conscientiously opposed to spilling the life blood of human beings, not for religious reasons... but because we believe that the interests and welfare of the working class in all countries are identical."

Vietnam War (1959-1975)

"Military action is no remedy for the settlement of the problem in Southeast Asia or Santo Domingo"

"However this dangerous adventure turns out militarily, America has already suffered a moral defeat beyond measure among the people of the world."

"For too long the people who supported active movements to bring about peace have sat by quietly and separately. It is beautiful to see the working together of brothers and sisters of such varied unions."

"This war will be ended by the American people and this meeting is a powerful step in that direction. If anyone represents the mood of American labor, it is the people in this room today."

"The members of my union understand that this war is not a far-out issue. It is a basic, bread-and-butter, today issue. It means that the money to take care of the cities and provide the services people need just doesn't exist because of the war... There is one simple issue – to mobilize the trade union movement to get the hell out of Vietnam."

"I'm telling you, brothers, that if we do not recognize the issue of racism as one of the primary factors of the Vietnam war, we will never be able to be rid of Vietnam, because it may die, but tomorrow it may be born again, perhaps within our own boundaries. If we do not recognize racism as a prime target in our objective to obtain peace, the Vietnam war may end, but tomorrow, under the same banner of racist patriotism, perhaps in Latin America or some other country will become another Vietnam."

"We demand the immediate withdrawal from Indochina of every American soldier, every gun, every plane, every tank, every warship and every dollar...

"Our swords must be converted into ploughshares — our immense industrial technology must be directed into peaceful, constructive channels — our people must be put to work to fulfill the pressing social and economic needs of our nation...

"We are determined that the voice of American labor, which has been raised in every struggle for justice and decency, shall not remain silent during this critical period. We invite representatives of all labor organizations — international unions, state and city central labor bodies, and local unions — to join us in harnessing the conscience and will of American labor in a powerful organization — Labor for Peace — to bring an end to this war NOW."