In spite of being told not to strike, ILWU members across the west coast did so anyhow. The spin - both in the Portland paper, and virtually all other corporate media - is that the day shift work stoppage was not a protest against the Iraq occupation, but a tour de force during contract negotiations. Personally, I think this is a concerted effort to minimize the powerful statement the strike makes.
From Portland Oregon Live we get the following two and a half minute video coverage:
| May Day: Marchers make their points in parade through Portland |
The amazing thing about the raw footage is the breadth of the protest. Mush like the WTO protest in Seattle in 1999, labor continues to address a broader array of issues - the war, workers rights, and immigrant rights.
As I suspected, there is a "velvet" threat in several articles that action many be taken against the ILWU, or compensation for losses pursued.
I am proud of the workers of the ILWU! Thank you for standing up. I hope that your action inspires resistance across the country.
Here is a sampling of articles relating to the strike:
Longshoremen defy work order, stay off the job on May Day - Portland Oregonian
All Out on May Day! - Portland IndyMedia
No work at ports as longshore protests war. From Tacoma, Wa. News Tribune.
Protesters unite in peace on May Day - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Dockworkers take May Day off, idling all West Coast ports - LA Times
Anti-war strikes hit US ports - Al Jazeera
Good God ! I hope this spreads like a virus !!!!!!!!!!
Imagine that. A resistance virus!