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ILWU Rally
Supporters of the ILWU rallied at the Port of Oakland June 27.
A rally was held at the port of Oakland Thursday June 27 in support of the International Longshoreman’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU). Their contract with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) expires Monday July 1. So far, contract negotiations have not been fruitful, and if there is a work slowdown after Monday’s deadline, the PMA is threatening a lockout. James P. Hoffa, President of the Teamsters Union, offered his support at Thursday’s rally. Hoffa said, “A lockout of the ILWU is a lockout of the Teamsters.” Further support was pledged by Ken Riley, President of local 1422 of the International Longshoreman’s Association (which represents dockworkers on the East Coast), Kees Marges, Secretary of Dockers Section of theInternational Transport Workers Federation of Great Britain (http://www.itf.org.uk), and Londer Rakin of the Panama Pilots Union, to name a few.
The consensus among the speakers was that the corporations were attempting to use 9/11 as an issue to force major concessions from the unions, for example an end to the ILWU’s hiring hall. Hoffa reminded the audience of five hundred workers, “It was union people going up those stairs at the World Trade Center while the corporate leaders were coming down.” According to the ILWU, the Bush administration has offered a veiled threat that should the Union go on strike the administration would intervene in the name of national defense.
The consensus among the speakers was that the corporations were attempting to use 9/11 as an issue to force major concessions from the unions, for example an end to the ILWU’s hiring hall. Hoffa reminded the audience of five hundred workers, “It was union people going up those stairs at the World Trade Center while the corporate leaders were coming down.” According to the ILWU, the Bush administration has offered a veiled threat that should the Union go on strike the administration would intervene in the name of national defense.
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I have been informed that a more accurate estimate of the audience was 1000.
All in all, a very positive event, except for LT Gov Bustamente attempting to lead everyone in the so-called "pledge of allegience", which was not the mood of the majority of those in attendence, and Teamster President Hoffa's, off the wall exhortations of "God Bless America"
The down side of this rally mentioned - the role of such types as Lt. Gov. Bustamante and head of the Teamsters, Hoffa -- are not accidental; they are but the most visible examples of the thinking and the role of the entire labor leadership. Over and over again, like a killer returning to the scene of the crime, these leaders try to convince the corporate heads and their paid politicians (Democrat and Republican) that they are an important part of the same team. In order to carry out this attempt, they (the union leadership) must ensure that the members never get out of hand. They ensure that open defiance of the anti-labor laws is never considered as a viable option; they ensure that the members are not mobilized as a mass force and that their demands are always "reasonable", meaning that they don't go beyond what at least a wing of the corporate owners (the capitalist class) and a wing of their politicians would consider as acceptable.
At the same time, they have to put a little pressure on the rest of the capitalist class (as well as their supposed allies) and they have to at least maintain the fiction that they are trying to do something and accomplishing something for their members. As a result, we have seen rally on top of rally of this sort. When all else failse, so metimes they are forced to enter into a strike. However, there has not been a major strike in the US for decades that has concluded with any significant gains. The overwhelming majority concluded with at least some important concessions.
So don't get too excited about these rallies. Even those who didn't seem as much part of the establishment, such as Judy Gough of the Alameda County Central Labor Council, completely go along with this failed policy. What is needed is for those who see through this sham to help organize centers of opposition within the rank and file of the labor movement.
John Reimann
expelled member, Carpenters Local713
At the same time, they have to put a little pressure on the rest of the capitalist class (as well as their supposed allies) and they have to at least maintain the fiction that they are trying to do something and accomplishing something for their members. As a result, we have seen rally on top of rally of this sort. When all else failse, so metimes they are forced to enter into a strike. However, there has not been a major strike in the US for decades that has concluded with any significant gains. The overwhelming majority concluded with at least some important concessions.
So don't get too excited about these rallies. Even those who didn't seem as much part of the establishment, such as Judy Gough of the Alameda County Central Labor Council, completely go along with this failed policy. What is needed is for those who see through this sham to help organize centers of opposition within the rank and file of the labor movement.
John Reimann
expelled member, Carpenters Local713
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