Last Thursday, on May 1, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union called for a work stoppage at all West Coast ports to protest the war in Iraq. Dock workers shut down 29 ports from Long Beach to Seattle.

The Pacific Maritime Association brought an action to prevent the shut-down, but despite a last minute ruling from an arbitrator forbidding them from taking the day off, the ILWU proceeded with their action. Rallies took place up and down the coast.

"It's important that these processes are in place and we respect them," ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees said of the ruling by arbitrator John Kagel. "We also have an obligation and are proud to respect the First Amendment rights our members have as citizens governed by the Constitution. This is a voluntary act of good citizenship to shake the tree in Washington, D.C., and get those folks to wake up and respect the overwhelming majority of Americans," who want to end the war, Merrilees said.

About 70 people showed up at the rally at the Port of Stockton. ILWU members from Local 14 in Eureka and Local 18 in Sacramento gathered  with the Stockton Locals, 54 and 6. Other supporters from labor joined them, including members of CTA, CSEA, CNA and Local 601 of the Teamsters. The local paper, the Stockton Record, covered the rally at the Port of Stockton:

Many speakers attacked the war in terms of costs - both human and monetary - to the American middle class.

While fighting in Iraq may seem far away, said ILWU member David Griffin, "It's really all around us."

He deplored the homes vacant in his neighborhood due to the foreclosure and credit crisis and described seeing a clerk suffering behind the counter at Hollywood Video because she couldn't afford to see a dentist to relieve an impacted molar.

"We don't have health care in this country because of this damn war," Griffin said. "We've got to end this war, bring the troops home and take care of people like my neighbor and the girl at Hollywood."

Even more compelling, perhaps, was the fact that the ILWU action was aided by various employers throughout the area. Stevedore Services of America (SSA) and Metropolitan Stevedore also stopped work in support of the ILWU. The Tesoro refinery in Pittsburg cancelled its shipments, and the Port of Stockton likewise cancelled shipments. Check out the statement from the director of the Port of Stockton:

Port of Stockton officials took no part in the rally, said Richard Aschieris, the port's director.

"It's not appropriate for the port to take a position on these sorts of things," he said.

Still, the port had allowed the peaceful event to be held on the lawn fronting the administration building.

"It was a great exercise in democracy," Aschieris said.

It reminded him, he said, of the tradition of Liberty Trees in towns all across Colonial America that served as gathering points for those opposed to English rule.

Comments

[Joan Kaiser Bell]

Our vote will count, and the other states.