Defying Employers, Anti-War Dockworkers Plan to Shut Down West Coast Ports

by via Democracy Now

Thu, May 1, 2008 8:09AM

Thursday, May 1, 2008 :The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has been organizing to shut down ports on the West Coast today - May Day - to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But yesterday an arbitrator ordered the union to tell its members that they must report to work today. We speak to Clarence Thomas, an executive Board member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 and a member of U.S. Labor Against the War.

Tension is rising here on the West Coast between dockworkers and their employers group, the Pacific Maritime Association. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has been organizing to shut down ports on the West Coast today – May Day—to protest the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But yesterday an arbitrator ordered the union to tell its members that they must report to work today. Meanwhile dockworkers in Iraq have announced plans to shut down the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Al Zubair for one hour today to show solidarity with the U.S. dockworkers.

To talk more about the situation we are joined by Clarence Thomas. He is an executive Board member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 and a member of U.S. Labor Against the War.

Clarence Thomas, Executive Board member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 10 and a member of U.S. Labor Against the War.

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For more information: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/1/defyi...

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