Like so many friends, I am struggling to understand the horrific attack on our city and nation and how it has changed our world forever.  I am filled with sorrow, rage, fear and confusion.  In recent years, and with only modest success, the labor movement has worked hard to become a more relevant force in our society; since the tragedy of September 11th that challenge has become more profound.

There are few places in the world where such an act of terrorism could kill so many different kinds of people.  Every race, ethnicity, religion, and class is represented among the victims.  It is that rich diversity -- sadly now, even among the dead -- that makes our city and nation so great.  

In the aftermath of this disaster, we cannot allow our society to descend into an abyss of bigotry, racism and anti-immigrant hysteria; that would only add to the damage already inflicted by the terrorists.  Nor can we sacrifice civil liberties and basic rights in the name of internal security; that would hand the terrorists a victory.

We must fight to be sure that working families -- who were hit so hard by this disaster -- are not forgotten in the recovery and reconstruction phase.  It is clear that conservative forces are not abandoning their agenda during this crisis; on the contrary, they are escalating their campaign to redistribute wealth and power and to disable the labor movement.  With many Democrats apparently rolling over, we've got to heighten our efforts to articulate and advance a working class agenda.

Part of that agenda should challenge twenty years of neo-liberal ideology and free market worship.  Privatization, deregulation and the dismantlement of the public sector contributed to this crisis.  Our failure to federalize airport and airline security is just one example.  And, when disaster struck who stepped to the plate?  Public servants of all kinds, many of whom exhibited a courage and determination that was truly inspiring.

Very soon, we must rededicate ourselves to growing the labor movement.  Since September 11th, a 16-acre piece of lower Manhattan has been the most densely unionized area in North America.  Ninety-nine percent of the firemen, policemen, emergency teams, medical staff and construction workers are proud union members who have performed heroically.  In America's darkest hour, unionized heroes offered our nation its brightest hopes.
 
Unions whose members were most severely affected by the disaster have dramatically demonstrated the essence and value of union representation. HERE 6 and 100, SEIU 32 BJ, and others have worked tirelessly and fought effectively to assist their members at this moment of great need.  And, the NYC Central Labor Council quickly established a Labor Support Center to aid working families traumatized by the terrorist attack.  These good works offer lessons that should not be lost on the millions of unorganized workers in the metro area who would benefit from union membership.

We see how our unions responded.  But, how should our nation respond?  The victims who survived this atrocity -- as well as the workers directly engaged in the rescue, recovery and reconstruction -- can speak with the greatest moral authority.  What do I hope their voices might say?

-That we now understand the true horror of war and urge our government to respond with reason and restraint to avoid more innocent deaths from acts of retribution anywhere in the world.

-That to truly defeat terrorism we cannot rely on military might and must avoid an escalating cycle of violence that would follow precisely the kind of military misadventure terrorists hope to provoke.

-That we must finally understand and address the suffering and frustration of millions of people throughout the Middle East whose desperation drives them into the hands of fanatical extremists.

-That we must find those responsible for this heinous crime and bring them to justice, preferably before an international court.

In our shared grief and anger, our familiar chant -- "no justice, no peace" -- has new, haunting resonance at home and all around our changed world.

Jeff Grabelsky is a 20-yr member of IBEW, a faculty member of Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and worked with the Central Labor Council to set up the Labor Support Center.
 

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