Clash ahead over longshore union war protest
Apr 29 2008
Quote:
Members of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union are proceeding with plans for a work stoppage at 29 West Coast ports on May 1 to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, despite the fact that union leadership has withdrawn its request to waterfront employers that they accommodate closure of the ports.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/26/BUC610C2HA.DTL
Looks like we need to start mobilizing a defense campaign for the dockers
PMA, which has a heavy investment in the Iraq war through it's member Stevedoring Services of America , seems in the mood to prosecute.
Apr 29 2008
#2
Quote:
April 17, 2008One Longshoreman's Opinion
Stop PMA's Phony Legal Attack!
Defend Our Union!
Support the Caucus Resolution!
http://www.labornet.org/cgi-bin/ib/cgi-bin/ib.cgi?action=read&id=151
Apr 30 2008
#3
Its a very nice poster.
Apr 30 2008
#4
Asher wrote:
Its a very nice poster.
Not bad for agitprop!
Apr 30 2008
#5
In solidarity with the ILWU, the General Union of Port Workers in Iraq will stop work for one hour on May Day in the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Al Zubair.
May Day Message from the Port Workers in Iraq to West Coast dock workers in the U.S.
General Union of Port Workers of Iraq
April 29th, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters of ILWU in California
The courageous decision you made to carry out a strike on May Day to protest against the war and occupation of Iraq advances our struggle against occupation to bring a better future for us and for the rest of the world as well.
We are certain that a better world will only be created by the workers and what you are doing is an example and proof of what we say. The labor movement is the only element in the society that is able to change the political equations for the benefit of mankind. We in Iraq are looking up to you and support you until the victory over the US administration's barbarism is achieved.
Over the past five years the sectarian gangs who are the product of the occupation, have been trying to transfer their conflicts into our ranks. Targeting workers, including their residential and shopping areas, indiscriminately using all sorts of explosive devices, mortar shells, and random shooting, were part of a bigger scheme that was aiming to tear up the society but they miserably failed to achieve their hellish goal. We are struggling today to defeat both the occupation and sectarian militias' agenda.
The pro-occupation government has been attempting to intervene into the workers affairs by imposing a single government-certified labor union. Furthermore it has been promoting privatization and an oil and gas law to use the occupation against the interests of the workers.
We the port workers view that our interests are inseparable from the interests of workers in Iraq and the world; therefore we are determined to continue our struggle to improve the living conditions of the workers and overpower all plots of the occupation, its economic and political projects.
Let us hold hands for the victory of our struggle.
Long live the port workers in California!
Long live May Day!
Long live International solidarity!
The General Union of Port Workers in Iraq
An Affiliate Union with General Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (GFWCUI)
Apr 30 2008
#6
Big White Cap all crisp and clean, gurley? 
Apr 30 2008
#7
Well, i've done my job...the mighty ranks of the bay area ferry boat workers will be out in force ! 
And I don't have one of those hats....maybe I should try and pick one up by tomorrow...
May 1 2008
#8
So I heard through the grapevine the ILWU is being asked to ship military supplies tomorrow, something they're legally obliged to do, and can face persecution if they refuse. Anyone know if there's any truth to this?
May 1 2008
#9
From small groups of workers mighty movements are born. Way to go, sis!
Get the cap, those are the coolest unionwear in north america.
nc, I am not sure, gurley or one of our labor law experts will correct me if I'm wrong, but i don't think there's a legal requirement to handle military shipments over and above any other cargo. PMA is gearing up to file charges under Taft-Hartley, which is no petty threat, but it's not directly charging interference with the war, as far as I know. In any case, we do need to be on standby to support the dockers and their union. I'm sure the big federations will be coming up with cash for fines, etc. but I doubt the petty cash pro-revolutionary groups, or whatever we're supposed to call ourselves this week, can raise would be refused.
May 1 2008
#10
If I was working the docks, I'm sure all these legal threats would affect the quality of my work.
May 1 2008
#11
that's brilliant that the iraqi oil workers are walkign out too. good international linking there...
ps. i'm fascinated by these white hats. anyone got a pic?
May 1 2008
#12
This is great! I'm a bit emotional from reading the letter from iraq 
May 1 2008
#13
Quote:
Enough is Enough!Nationwide Diesel Shut Down: April 30 - May 1, 2008
Nationwide Diesel Shutdown!May 1, 2008
This past month thousands of truck drivers all across the nation shut down their rigs to protest the high cost
of fuel. The message was heard but not loud enough!Everyone agreed that WE got to do it all together!!!
Port truck drivers from the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coast are uniting and encouraging ALL truck drivers,
intermodal, otr, regional, to join us to let our government leaders know that something has got to be
done. Truck drivers are the new slaves and we are getting tired of working just to pay the cost of diesel.Enough is Enough! Some areas want to shut down for a week, May 1 to May 8. Others are taking it to
Washington D.C. on a Convoy. WE all must do what WE can, our families are counting on us, and
the American public has its’ hopes in us. Feed our families or buy diesel. Something is wrong.Stop all trucks on May 1, 2008.
America will stop for that day.
WE have a problem that needs to be fixed.
Our Soldiers
Bring them home NOW! We need them at home. The price of the war is too high,
both in soldiers killed and our economy.Drivers Rights
Truck drivers realize that it doesn’t matter what race you are or where
you’re from. Abuse from the brokers, dispatchers, and companies hurt
everyone. For one day WE must all pull together.April 30, 2008, Ports Shut Down!
Port Drivers from Los Angeles (west coast), Houston (gulf coast), and Newark (east coast), will begin the shut down one day early in order to make a coordinated public call for ALL truck drivers across the country to shut down the next day, May 1. Port drivers will meet at the usual locations and OTR drivers please meet at the truck stop lobby.
Decided what your demands are and how many days (one week?) you are shutting down and WILL WE STAND TOGETHER?
May 1 2008
#14
Where's that from, David? The truck drivers strike thing has been around for a while as an urban legend - see http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/strike.asp
May 1 2008
#15
May 1 2008
#16
Sweet, hopefully its for real then
May 1 2008
#17
Just heard ffrom one of my ILWU friends, Seattle is out tight, no one signed in for work. Truckers are rare.
Time for me to happily eat crow.
May 1 2008
#18
Asher wrote:
Sweet, hopefully its for real then :)
I like it! The internationalism is a bit weak but it's there!
May 1 2008
#19
Is this something huge or just one lefty in Iraq and one in America? Exciting if its even just 20 people. *edit* Just saw fnbrill's post, sounds amazing.
May 1 2008
#20
this is huge. ILWU longshore division is thousands of well organized lefties with lots of friends. If the port of Seattle is shut down, and we know the San Francisco ferries aren't sailing, it's safe to assume they've met or come close to the goals of the conference resolution.
May 1 2008
#21
Somebody do a huge write up that I can spam around the internets. Am in work and busy writing about cervical smears, which are gross.
May 1 2008
#22
fnbrill---
Would you like your crow boiled or BBQ? I do a hellava BBQ and gumbo.
May 1 2008
#23
Tyee-tin-tin wrote:
fnbrill---Would you like your crow boiled or BBQ? I do a hellava BBQ and gumbo.
I've been biting my fingers to not type this, but what the heck....
"TOLD YA SO!"
May 1 2008
#24
Port of Oakland* webcam report:
When by this time there are literally hundreds of short-haul troqueros lined up at the berths waiting to transfer containers to trains, warehouses or long-haul trucks, today there are none.
Happy May Day!
*The Port of Oakland is the 4th busiest port in the U.S.
May 1 2008
#25
Minutes ago, I spoke with Clarence Thomas of the ILWU executive board. "The rank and file action against the war is indeed happening right now", he said. And today the workers will write history.
In an attempt to head this off last night the PMA went to court, but the judge refused to take any action, until there is concrete action by the union in violation of their contract. This is a rank and file action by union members who are united by their opposition to the war, and the disagree with the decision of the arbitrator who has dis-allowed the choice of May Day, by the ILWU, as a "day for union business" for workers at all 29 ports on the west coast. A "day for union business" is allowed by their contract. Their original intent was to use this day as their official protest, but official or not, the protest is on.
Thomas affirmed that this is not to be confused with the negotiations between the union and their employers. The hard-won contract of 6 years ago is set to expire, and talks are going well. But on the issue of taking a day off for union business, the rank and file of Local 10 is going their own way and will close down the ports in protest of the ongoing wars of the Bush administration. This may be the beginning of a record setting anti-war action, since the vast majority of supplies and munitions for our current wars are shipped from the 29 ports on the West Coast, in california, Oregon, and Washington. All 29 will close today.
David Roknich 9:05 AM PST
Here is some background from union procedings which I've archived at my site:
The wars currently fought by the US in Iraq and Afghanistan have become a war against working people. This is why the Bay Area Longshoreman of ILWU Local 10 were the first American union workers to condemn the war.
May 1 2008
#26
Fucking awesome! Looking forward to seeing some more detail when I wake up (its 4:35am on May 2 here, and I'm off to bed).
May 1 2008
#27
http://www.indybay.org/antiwar/
Quote:
May Day breaking news
7am: DASW is picketing at the Port of Oakland to ask rail workers to join dock workers in shutting down the port, at the Union Pacific rail yard on 7th St and at the APL terminal on Maritime St.Direct Action to Stop the War brings its anti-war focus to May Day actions in San Francisco and Oakland on Thursday, May 1st. Starting at 5:45 a.m. at West Oakland BART, DASW will lead a community picket to shut down the Union Pacific rail lines at the Port of Oakland. The march will proceed west down 7th Street to the employee entrances, where DASW will urge workers from United Transportation Union Local 239 to join with the ILWU dock workers and the anti-war movement and not cross the picket line.
May 1 2008
#28
cbsmakes sure to equate workers with violence and makes sure not to mention the port stoppage. but the nyt reports:
Quote:
Mr. McEllrath said the walkout was not ordered by the union’s leadership, but was the result of a “democratic decision” made by the rank and file in February to demonstrate on May 1, a traditional day for labor activism.He said employers were notified in advance of the plan, but refused to accommodate the union’s request, instead seeking the arbitrator’s ruling.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/us/01cnd-port.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
May 1 2008
#29
This sounds pretty amazing, well done to all involved. Dunno if anyone saw but the Swedish dockers released a statement of support too..
Anyway, I knocked up an article for news but if I've missed anything out then just click the revise button or say here and I'll sort it later.. also, if any of you have a better/more recent picture I can stick up could you post it here too..
Fucking hell, at least Mayday was more interesting than it was here.. don't think anything happened in my town as far as I know.. 
May 1 2008
#30
clarence thomas of the ILWU interviewed on democracy now:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/1/defying_employers_anti_war_dockworkers_plan
Come to think of it, this just got scaled up from a contractual stop-work meeting to a political strike which has no legal protection that I'm aware of in US labor law.