ILWU To Shut Down All West Coast Ports To Protest War
Submitted by pirate on Sun, 04/27/2008 - 18:00.
indybay Sat Apr 26 2008
On May 1, all 29 ports on the U.S. West Coast are to be shut down by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) in protest against the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq. The Bay Area ILWU local was the first American union to condemn the war. In April 2003, as invading U.S. troops reached Baghdad, six longshoremen were injured and a union official was arrested as police fired on hundreds of antiwar protesters in the port of Oakland. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) notified the union on April 3 that it “doesn’t consent to a stop-work meeting or any other effort to disrupt port operations.” Subsequently the PMA threatened union leaders with court action under Taft-Hartley if they don’t call it all off.
Supporters of the ILWU will meet in San Francisco at Mason and Beach (in Fishersmans' Wharf) at 10:30 am on May Day. There will then be a march to a 12 noon rally in Justin Herman Plaza. more details
Read More | Longshoremen will close West Coast ports on May 1 to protest war | 
Grandlake Theater Marquee | Vermont AFL-CIO Calls on Workers to Support Work Stoppage | ILWU May Day Site
Past Indybay ILWU Coverage: 2007 Anti-War Dock Protests | Rallies Related to 2003 Oakland Anti-War Dock Protests | 2002 Lock-Out | 2002 Contract Issues | ILWU Refuses To Unload Italian Ship After G8 Protester Killed in Italy
Media Island - a bad neighbor
Media Island needs to work on being a better neighbor to their immediate neighbors. Setting off fireworks and having drunken rants and parties and loud music does not foster a positive neighborhood atmosphere. Rather, it results in a new type of tyranny - the tyranny of disrespect. People can agree with your politics and aims, but if the totality of your actions do not create a better world then you have made the world a worse place.
Stop loud noise at all hours. Stop drunken disrespect. Stop being a detriment when you could be good....
Bad Neighbors?
Media Island has an FCC licensed radio station and does occasionally have live music. You must also realize that there are other neighbors that do drink a lot and get kinda loud at night, and this should not reflect on Media Island. I am here a lot doing work for the radio, and I don't see any of these things going on here (Except for the loud music). We close at 10:00pm (unless there is a late night dj) and lock the doors. During that time, only the caretaker is here. Yes, he drinks from time to time (as do most of us), but he is NEVER out of control or showing "drunken disrespect". So what if some kids shot off some fireworks? Just having some fun, i guess. So what? Tyranny of disrespect? Why don't you come over here during the meetings (Tuesdays 7pm) and discuss this like an adult with the board of directors and volunteers instead of callings us tyrants with random e-mails! Neighbors are supposed to have an open channel of communication. They are not supposed to send anonymous e-mails with false accusations and name calling. Grow up or move away.
Bad Neighbors
No one is complaining about music before 10. People do complain when a couple of drunks at your establishment set off fireworks late at night and then swear at neighbors who complain.
The internet is a source of open communication, in fact if you didn't believe that what is the point in putting up information on your website.
Frankly I fear retaliation, given your organizations behavior. We have many great neighbors who are not nearly as disrespectful - Fertile Ground for example.
There is no false accusation here, the world is not divided into false accusations and and true accusations. Maybe it is time for Media Island to grow up as an organization or cease to exist. Such a blatant and hostile response only feeds the reason people don't directly confront you. You create an atmosphere of hostility and fear.
If is not false about your lack of respect. I have spoken to 3 neighbors in 3 directions and all of them have been awaken by late night music or parties. Some have asked you to stop and some have not. I choose the internet, but this makes me no less of a person that should be respected than the neighbors who ask you to quiet down.