Oregon AFL-CIO E-Board
rejects 2005 resolution
supporting Kyoto Protocol
Convention refers Res. 17
to E-Board, where it has
remained tabled
An Oregon AFL-CIO resolution on
global warming that has been languish-
ing for two years was officially put to
rest Aug. 10.
Resolution 17 — to endorse the Ky-
oto treaty on global warming — was
first introduced at the October 2005
convention of the Oregon AFL-CIO.
After much debate — and because it
was in direct conflict with the position
taken by the national AFL-CIO — del-
egates referred it to the AFL-CIO Gen-
eral Board. In December 2005, the res-
olution was again debated and tabled by
the Board. It has remained in limbo ever
since.
On Aug. 10, a motion to “untable”
the resolution was successful, but the
resolution itself failed to win majority
support.
The Kyoto Protocol is a commit-
ment by developed nations to reduce
emissions of “greenhouse” gases like
carbon dioxide that are contributing to
global warming. It was tagged the Ky-
oto Protocol because it was the product
of a special meeting of the United Na-
tions in December 1997 in Kyoto,
Japan.
The United States never signed the
treaty, saying that it required no equiva-
lent commitment by developing coun-
tries, like China or India.
In 1997, the national AFL-CIO also
rejected it, reasoning that the treaty did-
n’t include developing nations. It reaf-
firmed that position in 1999, saying the
treaty was too one-sided and that it was
a threat to the U.S. economy.
Subsequent actions by the AFL-
CIO’s Executive Board reaffirmed op-
position to the Kyoto Agreement.
In a letter drafted March 2007 to
Rep. John Dingell, AFL-CIO Legisla-
tive Director Bill Samuel said the labor
federation supports balanced measures
to combat global warming.
“However, the federation opposes
extreme measures that would under-
mine economic growth, harm particu-
lar sectors, or place the U.S. at a disad-
vantage to other nations,” he added.
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AUGUST 17, 2007
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