Our Power to Shut It Down! April 25 Rally for ILWU

Our Power to Shut It Down

(An earlier article posted by Jonathan Nack gives a great accounting of the rally. Here are some additional observations and information).

The kick-off rally for supporting ILWU in stopping the PMAA lawsuit against the union represents the courage we need to resurrect a militant, united front to counter every attack being waged on us. And, ILWU has the history of leading answering the call – from stopping shipment of arms to Chile to shutting ports up and down the coast to protest the Iraq war. Nelson Mandela credits ILWU and its historic shutting down of ports up and down the coast with the imitation of the Anti-Apartheid movement in this country. The current is becoming stronger for a general strike, for workers hold the power to withhold their labor! Tim Paulson of the SF Labor Council reminded us that these attacks are on all workers-union, non-union public and private workers. Time has come to take the next step, step up to resistance. If not now, when?
Patricia Brown, a teacher from the United Teachers of Richmond told about the plight in
Richmond schools. The district has lost 30,000 teachers over the past 3 years from budget cuts. They are facing another loss of 20,000 teachers and $18 billion in cuts – unless we call for a people’s budget and occupy Sacramento until we get a budget that works for us! On May 3, the United Teachers of Richmond with community and unions in solidarity are calling an action to line the street of San Pablo with supporters. Join in.

Many unions sent supporters: Locals 75,30,6,34,91, AFSCME 444, and the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific. Also showing support were union retirees, Code Pink, Gray Panthers, Workers Solidarity Committee of the Transport workers, Courage to Resist, and MUNI drivers who honked support from Market street!