USA: West Coast Ports Shut Down to Protest War

Authored by: lawrence on Friday, May 02 2008 @ 08:15 PM UTC

For the record, the "strike" was for eight hours and was announced long in advance of May 1. Oh, and the Concord Naval Weapons Station docks were going full speed--that is, they were specifically kept off the list of "closures." The ILWU talks big, puffing up their image as a progressive union, when in reality they are just another business union. Pathetic. If they had authorized a green ban (refusing to load or unload specific cargo connected to the war effort for example), or had turned a blind eye to a wildcat work stoppage that lasted longer than one day shift, then there might be something newsworthy in this. Barring that, the ILWU show of May Day strength was empty posturing, business as usual.

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Authored by: deanosor on Saturday, May 03 2008 @ 01:12 AM UTC

USA: West Coast Ports Shut Down to Protest War

Thursday, May 01 2008 @ 10:58 AM CDT
Contributed by: Admin
Views: 145
LOS ANGELES - Terminal operators say West Coast cargo traffic has come to a halt as port workers stage daylong anti-war protests.

Terminal operators say West Coast cargo traffic halted

By ALEX VEIGA, AP Business Writer

LOS ANGELES - Terminal operators say West Coast cargo traffic has come to a halt as port workers stage daylong anti-war protests.

Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Steve Getzug says thousands of dockworkers did not show up to work Thursday morning, leaving ships and truck drivers idle at ports from Long Beach to Seattle.

The West Coast ports are the nation's principal gateway for cargo container traffic from the Far East.

A spokesman for the National Retail Federation says shippers and exporters planned for the slowdown that coincides with May Day and expected no significant long-term disruptions.
USA: West Coast Ports Shut Down to Protest War
Authored by: lawrence on Friday, May 02 2008 @ 08:15 PM CDT
For the record, the "strike" was for eight hours and was announced long in advance of May 1. Oh, and the Concord Naval Weapons Station docks were going full speed--that is, they were specifically kept off the list of "closures." The ILWU talks big, puffing up their image as a progressive union, when in reality they are just another business union. Pathetic. If they had authorized a green ban (refusing to load or unload specific cargo connected to the war effort for example), or had turned a blind eye to a wildcat work stoppage that lasted longer than one day shift, then there might be something newsworthy in this. Barring that, the ILWU show of May Day strength was empty posturing, business as usual.

1st of all 25,000 workers on strike against the war is nothing to sneeze at, even if only for 1 shift and the bosses preparing as best as they could. Note the business paper sounding like sour grapes.

Secondly, the ILWU does control the cargo on the West coast of the U.S. The strike by the workers stopping this cargo affects more than just the actual work they do. Becuase of this strike, the portworkers in Iraq went on strike.
The Railroad workers in Oakland were blocked from bringing their cargo to the port in Oakland. This is a beginning; it gives a warning of the possibilities of a green ban and other longer actions.

The ILWU does not move the cargo at Concord or at any military base. They do handle some military cargo but only at civilian port facilities. it is my hope that by this action it will spur future action like the hot-cargoing of military goods, that the ILWU does handle.

The ppoh-poohing of this historic action shows that people have not learned to celebrate our victories and organize for greater victories. If this action didn't occur, why would you expect any more radical action occur? Revolutions don't come ready made out of thin air.

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Authored by: lawrence on Saturday, May 03 2008 @ 01:35 AM UTC

It's true enough that revolutions don't pop out of thin air. But neither do they proceed from the hierarchs of a business union. When port workers wildcat, when they otherwise engage in actual real combative activities (those that go against the interests of the bosses and warmakers), then I'll get excited.

Historically working class people have had to go against the wishes and interests and orders of the bosses, including union bosses, to make real radical and lasting change. The ripples of this totally symbolic (however inconvenient is was for a few people) action may have some effects we cannot foresee, but I'm not holding my breath.

Unions and other political formations will have to be ditched in any real long-lasting upheaval with any chance of altering the smooth running of capitalism.

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