About the Emergency Labor Network
Who We Are
The Emergency Labor Network (ELN) is a network of labor organizations and individuals united in support of a program calling upon labor to wage a more militant and robust fightback against the many assaults targeting working people. We say “NO!” to cuts and concessions for workers in both the private and public sectors, as well as for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. We are guided by the 15 principles adopted at our founding meeting held in Cleveland March 4–5, 2011. We not only seek to protect the gains and achievements won by labor over centuries of struggle but we also urge the labor movement to break new ground in winning jobs for all; health care for all; quality education for our youth; full rights for all working people in the U.S., regardless of country of origin; organizing the South; independent labor political action; and redirecting war spending to meet human needs, including modernizing the crumbling infrastructure.
Why We Are
The ELN provides a meeting ground for trade unionists and other supporters of the working class who reject the idea that working people must sacrifice wages and benefits so that the nation, states, cities, school districts and corporations can resolve the current economic crisis. We educate to show that the country is awash with money as shown by the bailout given Wall Street and the banks, and the trillions spent on unjust wars and military adventures. Moreover, if companies like General Electric were not exempt from paying taxes on their multi-billions of annual profits, if the tax loopholes were closed, if taxes on the rich were increased, and if corporate executives were not enjoying record high salaries and bonuses while demanding that workers take cuts, people would no longer take seriously talk of the need for “shared sacrifices.”
