WHEREAS:

            For more than 30 years the United States has maintained an embargo of Cuba which makes it illegal for U.S. corporations to do business with Cuba (which includes food and medicine), economically punishes other countries that engage in trade with Cuba, imposes stiff fines on U.S. citizens who travel to Cuba, and restricts the freedom of U.S. citizens to exchange ideas and information with Cuban citizens; and

WHEREAS:

            The United States has won no support whatsoever from the international community for its unilateral action against Cuba, with the result that the U.N. General Assembly has condemned the embargo, the British and Canadian governments have refused to recognize provisions purporting to punish their citizens who ignore the embargo, and the Organization of American States has reaffirmed call to the United States to abandon its unworkable policy; and

WHEREAS:

            The U.S. Congress passed a non-binding joint resolution expressing the sense of Congress that "the President should not restrict travel or exchanges for informational, educational, religious, cultural or humanitarian purposes ... between the United States and any other country;" and

WHEREAS:

            A broad cross-section of Americans, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, key civil rights leaders, major newspapers and the Georgetown University Cuba Project have analyzed the premises and effects of U.S. policy against Cuba and have found them ineffective, counterproductive and seriously flawed; and

WHEREAS:

            Congress has before it H.R. 2229 introduced by Representative Charles Rangel (D.-N.Y.) calling for an end to the embargo and normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

            That this 31st Constitutional Convention of AFSCME call on the Administration and Congress to conduct a fresh examination of the purposes and intents of present U.S. policy toward Cuba, with a view to achieving normalization of relations between our two nations.

SUBMITTED BY:

INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

R.I. Mutope A-Alkebu-Lan, President and Delegate 
AFSCME Local 836, Council 25

Geraldine Chatman, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2799, Council 25

Dorothy Mottley, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 273, Council 25

Dave C. Clark, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1227, Council 25

Carlton McBurrows, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 2920, Council 25

Alvin Jones, Vice President and Delegate 
AFSCME Council 457, Council 25

Nathaniel Smith, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 345, Council 25

Patricia Saunders, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1023, Council 25

Dwayne Walker 
AFSCME Local 542, Council 25 
Michigan

Joel Schwartz, Delegate 
CSEA/AFSCME Local 1000
New York