Truckers' strike continues; community support needed

There was an inaccurate report in the Wednesday (5-5-04) Oakland Tribune announcing that a "tentative solution" had been reached, and it would "bring truckers back to work today." That report appears to have been based on a press release and statements issued by port officials. However, it's not what happened.

The truckers' strike is still going, and will continue. Several hundred of the striking truckers were at the APL gate Wednesday.

The sense of solidarity of the truckers was inspiring. One trucker told me that his company paid him adequately and he had no complaints about the company he worked for, however, he said he was out there on strike in solidarity with the other truckers who certainly did have serious complaints.

"We have each other!" the truckers were saying enthusiastically. They expressed pride in their solidarity and spoke of forming an association that will function as a union.

About a dozen community support people showed up on Wednesday, most of us in the late afternoon. The truckers were very glad to see us there and they told us so.


NEEDED: COMMUNITY SUPPORT
If you can come by for half an hour or so, that would be great. If you can stay longer, that would be even better.

TIME & PLACE:
Every day, all day, till the strike is over.
APL terminal on Middle Harbor Road.

Directions: The APL terminal is about a mile from the West Oakland BART. Go east on 7th Street, turn south on Adeline Street, continue on across the bridge and down Middle Harbor Road till you reach the first gate. This is the same route we took to the docks on April 7, 2003, May 12, 2003 and again on April 7, 2004. It's getting to be a well-beaten path.

(Note: for the time being, we'll no longer be meeting at the BART station; just go directly to APL.)

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