WHEREAS:

The fight against the racist apartheid regime in South Africa has been waged by freedom-loving people around the world for scores of years; and

WHEREAS:

Despite the reluctance of U.S. administrations to join that fight, and instead concentrate on less effective means than sanctions, ostracism and isolation; and

WHEREAS:

AFSCME and other committed organizations have been able, with support in Congress and in the society at large, to achieve a level of sanctions and other activities that have been effective in applying pressure on the racist regime in South Africa; and

WHEREAS:

The world campaign has finally convinced the regime in South Africa that changes must be made and that racism cannot remain an established policy of that country if it wishes to participate in the world community; and

WHEREAS:

Despite certain changes, including the freeing of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners, many aspects of apartheid and established racism remain in South Africa, and an enormous task of establishing a free and just society faces all people in that country.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME welcome the changes that have been placed into effect in South Africa, while at the same time acknowledging that much more must be done before the fight against apartheid can be said to have been won; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME welcomes the release of Nelson Mandela from prison, but notes that as of April 1990, there were still 4,523 political prisoners in South Africa-representing 80 percent of those convicted of armed action against apartheid; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That until political prisoners are restored to freedom in South Africa and other vestiges of apartheid are dismantled, AFSCME continue its efforts in the fight against racism and injustice in South Africa; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME support Congressional action to maintain sanctions and all other forms of U.S. pressure on South Africa until the conditions spelled out in the law have been met; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME will oppose any administrative actions proposed by the Bush administration that would in any way relieve pressure on the South African regime until all the conditions established by Congress have been met; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME is deeply honored by the decision of Nelson Mandela to employ our convention as a forum in which to acknowledge the role of the American labor movement — and AFSCME in particular — in the fight against apartheid and to urge that the struggle be continued until victory has been achieved; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME pledges its continuing support — moral and material — to Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress in their efforts to establish democracy and justice in South Africa.

SUBMITTED BY:

International Executive Board