Largest Labor Strike Since Iraq War Shuts Down West Coast Ports

LA Times:

Thousands of dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports took the day off Thursday, effectively shutting down operations at the busy complexes in what the union called a protest of the war in Iraq but employers worried might be a prelude to labor unrest.

The stand-down at ports including Los Angeles and Long Beach -- which combined handle 40% of the imported goods arriving in the United States each year -- idled ships and cranes, stranded thousands of big rigs and halted movement of about 10,000 containers during the eight-hour day shift.

Read the whole story: LA Times

Comments

[research]

Vet's, stay with us, the world needs you.

[KillTheMessenger]

This country is walking out on its Iraq vets just as it did on its Vietnam vets. Nothing learned. It's cheaper by far to wear that lapel pin.

[Pema]

Now who thinks any of these guys supports Hiroshima Hillary and her war plans for Iran?
I am a Californian, we didnt know Obama before, we do now, we thought we knew her, we didn't. Californians now depise this woman. Oh we now despise Bill too. Out of everyone I have talked to, and i've talked to alot, only one person supports Hillary.

[Gatormouth]

God bless the ILWU. I am a retired Fed. Do you know that the ILWU was the only major union in the U.S. to attempt to assist PATCO in the air traffic controllers strike of 1981? Solidarity failed and Reagan began dismantling the union movement and the middle class along with it. Now Corporatists are in charge and jobs, industries, investment capital, and worker experience and living standards have all evaporated to "trickle down" elsewhere. The ILWU still is standing, and now, hopefully, the other unions are getting back on their feet. Remember, Corporate Fascism is still Fascism, and it is happening here and it hurts small business just as much as it does labor. Don't let demagogues with wedge issues trick you into voting your prejudices rather than your interests. International corporations are not citizens, and the Constitution is of and for the citizens of this country, not the convenience of it's would be rulers. .....SUPPO­RT THE UNION MOVEMENT!!

[dperino]

wow! now, these are the types of activities we need to see from organized labor. although many know that a union like the service employees international will continue to pander to employers amidst socio/political scenario akin to a george romero zombie movie. i'm hoping this demonstration isn't a flash in the pan.

[tbone99]

Kudos to some stand up folks.

Nothing like delaying goods to Wal Mart to stick em where it hurts.Now if they could just stop the arms we're delivering into Iraq ....

[ibsteve2u]

lollll...I­'d like to have been a little birdie in the White House when this story broke...I have a half-suspicion that, since the President and Cheney seem to have found themselves to be incapable of pushing the button on Iran, they would wouldn't be above consoling themselves by talking about the joys of busting union heads.

Al Qaeda, Iraqi insurgents, union members - I suspect they are all the same to Bush and Cheney - just different groups who stand between themselves and more money.

[jeanruss]

What a fabulous thing to do-Where's the coverage!

[MadMadamMin]

Power to the people! What else are we missing?

[eldest]

Good on the dock workers, they are true Patriots