As demonstrations in Argentina and elsewhere herald the deepening "crisis of capitalism" in the US, workers across the Bay Area are unifying the struggle against employers attempting to eliminate jobs, cut healthcare and other benefits, attack workers' rights, and threaten public services.

Working under an expired contract, 10,000 West Coast longshore men and women face a threatened lockout by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) — and now the danger that President Bush will invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to crush a strike or slowdown. With contract negotiations stalled for two weeks, Bush has urged dockworkers to accept a compromise with bosses. In the event of a lockout or strike, unofficial "action centers" in major ports around the world will support the ILWU workers. Bush's only potential trump card: taking the nation to war.

On Monday 8/12, portworkers and supporters will hold a "Stop Work Meeting" and rally at the Oakland Federal Building to demand that the government stop threatening workers' rights and stay out of contract negotiations, scheduled to resume on 8/13. Over 700 portworkers and supporters rallied on 7/24 at PMA headquarters in SF: Photo | details | portsolidarity2002.org