Protest & Rally - No Militarization of the Port of Oakland!

One thing we have to recognize about the rally in oakland for the ILWU is that there have been many rallies like this, for Greyhound, PATCO, Eastern, Diamond Walnut, Kaiser workers, you name it. The same labor leaders who have presided over defeat after defeat were on the platform and made the usual proclamations. But what are they going to do that is different than they have done over the past 30 years and that has failed to produce results? This is an important question that has to be answered. They are preparing the road to another defeat with their tactics.

Also, they had the two corporate twins from the Oakland City Council there, Ignacio De La Fuente and Jerry Brown. Jerry Brown's pro landlord, corporate friendly policies are driving Oakland's poor and working class people out of their homes. The Union movement will not build much support among Oakland's working class youth with Jerry Brown on the podium with us. It seems to me that nothing has changed, don't go on the offensive, rely on "friendly" Democrats and federal mediation.

The theme of the rally was no interference. Spinosa of the ILWU boasted that they have offered a technology package that will increase efficiency and productivity and save the employers lots of money. Solidarity with working class communities can't be built this way, it is the source of their employer friendly policies and the defeats. They cannot go on the offensive when they accept the employers view of society, that as workers we have to compete and help the employers in their competition with each other for "market share" and profit.

"The theme of the rally was no interference"

This is sometimes the feeling I get at local activist events also, when the big guys run the show.

I had wanted to go to this rally but I was glad I didn't when I saw that Jerry was there. In a way I feel bad that I can't be supportive and am probably being divisive by sticking to my idealistic viewpoint, but I don't see jerry doing much for anyone except developers, the military, and the cops.

Jerry bypassed the existing school system in Oakland so that he wouldn't look bad and simply started his own military academy with outside money. If that works, are all the schools in oakland supposed to be military schools?? Is that the answer?? C'omon!

Why does everything in SF and Oakland have to be a war between the newspaper-mayors (they seem to be one entitiy), and the people??

Vic,

on Monday 19th the Campaign for renters' Rights which has had some major successes preventing evictions in Oakland is having a planning meeting to organize a protest of a coporate sell Oakland conference that Jerry Brown is welcoming to Oakland in September. It's at 6.00pm at temescal Library 52nd and Telegraph in oakland.

On the 20th, the Portworkers solidarity committee is having a meeting at the ILWU hall, 400 fort point in SF. Cross street is Mason. Can you drop me an e mail? I'd be interested in talking with you.

Richard

The propaganda that I've seen from the ILWU on the dockworkers fight is all about telegraphing the message that Jerry Brown and Grey Davis and the rest of the corporateclown politicos are supporting the union. If I was a boss I'd take that as a sign of weakness because it suggests that the workers aren't preparing and thus not prepared to get busy. The union thinks that with the seal of approval from Brown et al. they'll get more support. Even if that is the case -- which I don't think it is -- we'd need to ask: What does support formed on that basis mean? I'd say very little.

Conversely, how many potential allies are lost when they see the union's friendly to characters like Brown and Brown? How many are MORE apt to scab when the union appeal is so uninspired?

Any supporters of the union strategy, I'm interested to hear your thoughts