Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Stop ZIM Action Committee Thanks Supporters of Zim Shanghai Pickets and ILWU Local 10
The Stop ZIM Action Committee thanks participants and supporters of the Zim Shanghai blockade on Saturday, September 27, and salutes ILWU Local 10 longshore workers for honoring the picket lines.
September 29, 2014
In another resounding victory for Palestine solidarity, labor, Palestine solidarity and community activists successfully picketed the Israeli-owned container ship Zim Shanghai on Saturday, September 27th at the Port of Oakland. ILWU Local 10 longshore workers refused to cross the picket line and sent the ship back to sea with all its cargo still on board.
The Zim Shanghai arrived at the Port of Oakland early Saturday morning, docking at Stevedore Services of America (SSA) at 5:16am. Following in the tradition of the 2010 labor/community picket protesting the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the August 2014 action against the Zim Piraeus initiated by the Block the Boat coalition, the Stop ZIM Action Committee organized pickets of the ZIM ship during two work shifts at SSA, which ILWU Local 10 longshore workers respected.
Changing its departure time and itinerary, the Zim Shanghai, originally scheduled to leave at 1:00pm for Vostochnyy, Russia, instead left at midnight for the Port of Long Beach, most likely to try and unload its Oakland cargo in Los Angeles to be trucked back up to Oakland at considerable expense.
The Stop ZIM Action Committee would like to express its gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who gave so generously of their time and energy, publicized the event to their networks, sent messages of support, endorsed the picket and brought friends and family to the picket line. Most importantly, we salute the longshore workers of ILWU Local 10, who stood aside, gave up a day's pay and respected the picket lines we put up.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this Saturday’s peaceful direct action and we hope this will lead to more actions of this kind in Oakland, other ports in the West and East Coasts, and worldwide.
Stop ZIM Action Committee
--------------------------------------------------
The Stop ZIM Action Committee is comprised of labor, Palestine solidarity and community activists united to end the siege of Gaza by picketing vessels of the Israeli Zim Lines
In another resounding victory for Palestine solidarity, labor, Palestine solidarity and community activists successfully picketed the Israeli-owned container ship Zim Shanghai on Saturday, September 27th at the Port of Oakland. ILWU Local 10 longshore workers refused to cross the picket line and sent the ship back to sea with all its cargo still on board.
The Zim Shanghai arrived at the Port of Oakland early Saturday morning, docking at Stevedore Services of America (SSA) at 5:16am. Following in the tradition of the 2010 labor/community picket protesting the Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and the August 2014 action against the Zim Piraeus initiated by the Block the Boat coalition, the Stop ZIM Action Committee organized pickets of the ZIM ship during two work shifts at SSA, which ILWU Local 10 longshore workers respected.
Changing its departure time and itinerary, the Zim Shanghai, originally scheduled to leave at 1:00pm for Vostochnyy, Russia, instead left at midnight for the Port of Long Beach, most likely to try and unload its Oakland cargo in Los Angeles to be trucked back up to Oakland at considerable expense.
The Stop ZIM Action Committee would like to express its gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who gave so generously of their time and energy, publicized the event to their networks, sent messages of support, endorsed the picket and brought friends and family to the picket line. Most importantly, we salute the longshore workers of ILWU Local 10, who stood aside, gave up a day's pay and respected the picket lines we put up.
We want to thank everyone who participated in this Saturday’s peaceful direct action and we hope this will lead to more actions of this kind in Oakland, other ports in the West and East Coasts, and worldwide.
Stop ZIM Action Committee
--------------------------------------------------
The Stop ZIM Action Committee is comprised of labor, Palestine solidarity and community activists united to end the siege of Gaza by picketing vessels of the Israeli Zim Lines
Add Your Comments
Comments
(Hide Comments)
Zim ship unloads in Long Beach after Oakland protest
A Zim Integrated Shipping Services ship forced to abandon its scheduled call at the Port of Oakland over the weekend is now docked at the Port of Long Beach and unloading.
According to The Jewish Press, the Zim Shanghai left SSA Terminal at the Port of Oakland on Sunday and steamed 400 miles south to dock at Pier A at the Port of Long Beach. The ship docked earlier today, after being forced to depart from the Port of Oakland without unloading its cargo after a throng of pro-Palestinian protesters staged a second protest against the Israeli-based container line.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, demonstrators crowded the streets outside of the SSA Terminal in Oakland. A spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 said 34 longshoremen and clerks were dispatched to work the ship.
“Longshoremen and clerks trying to report to work were threatened physically at some points of ingress and their personal vehicles were physically blocked,” an ILWU statement said. “As such, all personnel stood-by outside of the demonstration perimeters for health and safety purposes.”
Two groups, one calling itself “Block the Boat for Gaza,” and another calling itself the “Stop Zim Action Committee,” organized the protests. The Stop Zim Action Committee released a statement on Sept. 29 thanking supporters for the blockade, and noted it organized the pickets specifically around two shifts at SSA. The group thanked the ILWU for “standing aside” and “sacrificing a day’s pay,” and said it hopes to lead more protests at other ports on the East and West Coasts.
This is the second time a Zim ship in Oakland has been blocked from unloading cargo at its SSA Terminal call this year, the first over four days in late August. Hundreds of protesters blocked the ILWU from working the Zim Piraeus, which went out to sea only to make a U-turn and head to Oakland's Ports America terminal. Longshoremen worked the vessel late into the night, but didn't finish unloading all of its cargo.
Protesters have also attempted to block Zim ships in Tacoma and Seattle.
A Zim Integrated Shipping Services ship forced to abandon its scheduled call at the Port of Oakland over the weekend is now docked at the Port of Long Beach and unloading.
According to The Jewish Press, the Zim Shanghai left SSA Terminal at the Port of Oakland on Sunday and steamed 400 miles south to dock at Pier A at the Port of Long Beach. The ship docked earlier today, after being forced to depart from the Port of Oakland without unloading its cargo after a throng of pro-Palestinian protesters staged a second protest against the Israeli-based container line.
On Saturday, Sept. 27, demonstrators crowded the streets outside of the SSA Terminal in Oakland. A spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 said 34 longshoremen and clerks were dispatched to work the ship.
“Longshoremen and clerks trying to report to work were threatened physically at some points of ingress and their personal vehicles were physically blocked,” an ILWU statement said. “As such, all personnel stood-by outside of the demonstration perimeters for health and safety purposes.”
Two groups, one calling itself “Block the Boat for Gaza,” and another calling itself the “Stop Zim Action Committee,” organized the protests. The Stop Zim Action Committee released a statement on Sept. 29 thanking supporters for the blockade, and noted it organized the pickets specifically around two shifts at SSA. The group thanked the ILWU for “standing aside” and “sacrificing a day’s pay,” and said it hopes to lead more protests at other ports on the East and West Coasts.
This is the second time a Zim ship in Oakland has been blocked from unloading cargo at its SSA Terminal call this year, the first over four days in late August. Hundreds of protesters blocked the ILWU from working the Zim Piraeus, which went out to sea only to make a U-turn and head to Oakland's Ports America terminal. Longshoremen worked the vessel late into the night, but didn't finish unloading all of its cargo.
Protesters have also attempted to block Zim ships in Tacoma and Seattle.
Despite what some supporters of the Israeli attack on Gaza have alleged NO ONE threatened any ILWU members on Sept 27th at the Port of Oakland .
That not only didn't happen but never would . Several of the key organizers are present or former Port (or Maritime ) workers and work closely with other members of Local 10 .
Out right disinformation to claim otherwise .
That not only didn't happen but never would . Several of the key organizers are present or former Port (or Maritime ) workers and work closely with other members of Local 10 .
Out right disinformation to claim otherwise .
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$185.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network