At the national conference of retired AMWU workers, in February this year, a resolution was passed calling for Peace Committees to be established in each branch of the AMWU, and for these committees to work closely with organisations such as IPAN. The Qld branch of Retired AMWU members has been an affiliate of IPAN for some years now.
Download the resolution here, or read below
DECISION 2
WORLD PEACE
The RMD National Conference 2022 again expresses its grave and growing concern at the fragile relationships between nations of the world.
We raise our deep concern at the rise of extreme right-wing organisations and neo fascist forces.
The rise of the erratic behaviour of world leaders and the almost complete break-down of peaceful relationships between nations leaves the world’s people in a fragile and uncertain state.
Conference strongly believes the world’s political parties are unable or unwilling to set aside political differences in order to achieve a world of peace.
Accordingly, Conference 2022 is of a view this can only begin with working class people acting together with the trade union movement at both a national and international level.
To begin the process within our own union, Conference directs the National body to direct states to re-form Peace Committees and begin a program of reaching out to other unions both at a national and international level.
Peace Committees to direct their activities toward a process of international dialogue with other peoples for a lasting peaceful co-existence.
The RMD determines to set an example of practical ways of beginning the process by setting up its own Peace Committees at a state and national level.
The role of these committees is to provide material and direction for our union’s peak bodies –
- To prepare an agenda to meet with like-minded organisations with the view of undertaking practical steps towards developing both state and national Peace organisations.
- To arrange international meetings of retired unionists to further pursue the issue of International Peace and Cooperation.
- The RMD Peace Committee to report to the next meeting of RMD State Secretaries.
The RMD calls for our members to advocate for peace through anti-war groups such as IPAN, Just Peace, the Trade Union Movement and political parties. We call on our Committees to develop a strategy to achieve this.