Much has been said and written about the AFL-CIO Convention, but I’m sorry to say the press missed a historical moment. For the first time in its history, the AFL-CIO voted to to withdraw the troops during a war.

Below is a partial transcript from the historic debate at the AFL-CIO Convention with an quote from our very own Executive Director of the SF Labor Council, Tim Paulson.

The successful passage of the resolution calling for rapid return of all U.S. troops from Iraq was the result of organizing on the part of antiwar labor activists from across the country who are part of a group called U.S. Labor Against the War.

Eighteen AFL-CIO affiliates submitted resolutions calling for either an immediate or rapid end to the occupation and return of the troops. The General Executive Council met prior to the General Convention and prepared its own resolution which did not include a demand for immediate or rapid withdrawal.

USLAW decided to propose an amendment calling for a rapid return of the troops. The language made clear that by “rapid” the delegates mean “immediate” or “speedy” withdrawal. Throughout the Convention, USLAW supporters lobbied delegates and invited them to a reception that was cosponsored by Pride at Work and USLAW for visiting Iraqi union leaders. No delegate spoke against the amendment which passed by an overwhelming majority vote of the delegates.

Direct Quote from Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the SF Labor Council

“My name is Tim Paulson and I’m the Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council. Early on, the delegates to our Council realized that this was a distortion of the values of working men and women in our country. All this money that is being spent on bombs and occupation could have been used for health care, jobs, and infrastructure. It could have been used for the things that working men and women absolutely value. That’s what we believe in.

Very early on, we passed a resolution that said that we must bring the troops home immediately! We believe, as Jesse Jackson said today, that we must “Brings the troops home!” “Bring the troops home!”

We believe that when you say “rapidly,” that would be the same as “immediately” — and that is why we are going to support this resolution.

I also want to thank our brothers and sisters of U.S. Labor Against the War for the hard work they have done across the country [loud applause] to make sure we are all aware of, and united around, this issue — which is an issue of central concern to all working men and women. Thank you. ”

To the many that attended the Convention and made history, thank you.