UE Convention Resolutions
Celebrate the Anniversary of
The Universal Declaration
Of Human Rights
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet for years our government has ignored and eroded the tenets of these basic human and civil liberties.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains the very principles that the UE was founded upon. Article 1 reads: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." This declaration guarantees all people freedom from oppression and discrimination. It enforces the rights to equal education, healthcare, privacy, pay equity, and peaceable assembly. Article 23 speaks specifically to labor rights, stating; "Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for protection of [his or her] interests" and demands "an existence worthy of human dignity" in the workplace.
Our current government flagrantly violates the treaty we have signed so long ago, as instanced in the refusal to honor "the right to fair and public hearings" in Guantanamo. Members of UE Locals 150, 160, and 170 in North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia respectively have experienced the disgraceful disregard of the International Labor Organization’s edict calling for fairness in the workplace. We call on all UE members to resurrect the spirit and the letter of this groundbreaking document, to educate not only our members, but also our communities at large.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AT THIS 70th UE CONVENTION:
- Educate our members on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, through newsletters, website articles, UE News, and developing educational materials for our members;
- Urge members to participate in, or start groups in their communities to educate the general public on the treaty, sponsoring conferences, and outreaching to schools and other community organizations;
- Calls on Congress and state legislatures to support and adhere to the principles therein;
- Supports December 10, 2008 "National Human Rights Day" and call for celebratory events in every state of our nation and encourage UE at all levels to help organize and participate in activities commemorating such.