Documents menu

Closing the School of the Americas

AFL-CIO Executive Council Statement, 4 August 1999

After too many years of civil war and violence resulting in the death of tens of thousands of innocent civilians, peace and democracy have finally taken hold in most of the countries of the Americas.

The AFL-CIO supports U.S. government policies and programs to promote democratization, political stability and the rule of law -- especially with respect to basic worker rights. We will continue to do whatever we can, through our International Affairs programs supported by the activities of our affiliates, to promote basic worker rights, especially freedom of association and the right to organize and bargain collectively.

The closing of the United States Army School of the Americas would not prevent the United States from providing appropriate training for the military personnel of the armed forces from the countries of Latin America.

The AFL-CIO believes that the continued training of Latin American military officers in practices which have led to the violation of human rights is out of step with the emerging climate of peace and democracy throughout the region. The School of the Americas is a relic of a previous era of violence; its very existence undermines the credibility of U.S. government efforts to assist development throughout the region. Therefore, the AFL-CIO supports legislation now pending in Congress to close the School of the Americas.