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Scab Ship Update

ICEM Update, 26 November 1997

On 5/13/98, at 12:21 AM, Harry Bridges <harrybridges@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Harry Bridges <harrybridges@yahoo.com
Subject: Fwd: Scab Ship Update
To: chrisbailey@labournet.org.uk

For up to date information visit the Harry Bridges Action Brigade Web Page at: http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/7392/index.html

MAY 11: COLUMBUS CANADA CHASED TO SEA ONCE AGAIN

Los Angeles and Long Beach area activists have succesfully prevented the Columbus Canada, which is loaded with scab cargo, from unloading in LA once again. Local activists mobilized between 200 and 300 community protesters on Monday afternoon May 11 on 2 hours notice.

The mobilization caused management to leave the ship anchored off the coast of San Pedro. The ship has been anchored offshore since 6 AM Saturday when community activists mobilized 1500 protestors to close the LA docks.

MAY 10: COLUMBUS CANADA WILL ATTEMPT ANOTHER DOCKING IN LA

After being repelled by a demonstration of 1500 strong Saturday, the scab-loaded Columbus Canada retreated to the Long Beach harbor. Word has just arrived that the shipping company will attempt again to bring the ship into the Port of Los Angeles Matson Company terminal for unloading tonight.

An emergency alert has been sounded and people are being mobilized to confront the company at the shift change. Under the ILWU contract, dock workers do not have to cross a picketline if they believe that there is a threat to their health and safety. The contract allows the employer to seek "instant" arbitration (within a couple of hours). Yesterday, the arbitrator ruled that there was no health or safety risk. ILWU members, however, did not enter the terminal. Matson, in fact, in the face of the mass demonstration, locked its gates.

MAY 9: LA DOCKS SHUTDOWN IN SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIAN WARFIES

SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE FOR THE AUSTRALIAN WHARFIES (SCAW) BULLETIN #2 LA DOCKS SHUTDOWN IN SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIAN WHARFIES!

The Columbus Canada, loaded by Patrick Stevedore scabs in Australia, arrived at Matson, Berth 208 Terminal Island in the Port of Los Angeles on Saturday, May 9.

Before the 8 A.M. shift began, ILWU Locals 13 and 63 longshore workers, themselves angry at Patrick's firing last month of all its 2,000 wharfies, members of the Maritime Union of Australia, refused to cross a mass solidarity picket line of some 1,500 labor and harbor community activists.

The Australian dock strike nearly brought down the right-wing Howard government which has vowed to break the MUA, one of the country's most militant unions. Dubbed the "War on the Waterfront" by the Australian press, this labor battle has been won by the union through massive and defiant picket lines supported by the entire labor movement.

Last Wednesday 100,000 marched in support of the wharfies in Melbourne. Although the dispute was tentatively resolved yesterday, scab-loaded ships are just now beginning to arrive on the West Coast of North America. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents stevedoring companies and international shipping conglomerate on the West Coast has initiated an arbitration hoping to force longshoremen to work the ship.

Matson gates have been locked and no cargo is being moved by trucks in or out of the terminal. Demonstrators chanting "We support the MUA; No scab cargo in L.A." and "MUA here to stay; No scab cargo in L.A." have effectively shut dock operations down.

Blue Star, which owns the Columbus Canada, ANZDL, APL, Mediterranean Shipping Lines and other shipowners have supported Patrick's union-busting efforts by loading at their scab docks during the lockout. Supporters of the Australian wharfies in West Coast ports will be demonstrating their solidarity on the docks, as well. After L.A. the Columbus Canada, is due to arrive in Oakland, where similar protests against the Neptune Jade occurred last year in support of the Liverpool dockers. ACTION ALERTS

LA INFORMATION

In the event of an alert LA/Long Beach area activists are urged to proceed to the Matson Terminals on Terminal Island, Berth 208.

Take the Harbor Freeway exit going east onto Ocean Blvd (you will cross the Vincent Thomas Bridge), turn left (north) onto Henry Ford Ave and you will come to New Dock Street. The rally is at Matson Terminals, Terminal Island Berth 208 which is at 1001 New Dock Street. There is parking near by. For more local information, call 310-831-2397.

"MUA IS HERE TO STAY; NO SCAB CARGO IN L.A."

BAY AREA INFORMATION

If this ship is dispatched from L.A to Oakland, it will likely dock at the Madsen Terminal located at the end of 7th Street. (accessible from Maritime St., Which runs from West Grand Avenue down to 7th street).

From San Francisco, take the Bay Bridge to Oakland. take the West Grand Avenue exit in the far right lanes coming off the bridge just past the toll plaza before the 580/80 split, turn right on Maritime.

From Oakland, access 7th street from West Grand Avenue via a left turn onto Peralta or Maritime St. Follow Maritime to 7th St and bear to the right along side of the BART right of way.

Parking may not be available immediately at or near the terminal entrance. Portview park is down the road west of the terminal. Parking may be available there.

The nearest BART stop is the Oakland West station (first stop in Oakland). Every effort will be made to run a shuttle between BART and the picket line in the event picketing becomes necessary. This BART stop is adjacent to 7th street about a mile east of the terminal. Further information and a contact number follow below.

Remember the lesson of the Neptune Jade: "NO SCAB CARGO IN OAKLAND!"

Get the Latest Information

LA AREA: For updated info call 310-831-2397

BAY AREA: For updated info call 510-845-0540

Besides calling (510) 845-0540 with updates, you can also: Tune into Free Radio Berkeley 104.1 FM in Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville, and north Oakland.

If you have updates you'd like announced on the air, you can call the studio at (510) 594-8082 (but note that not all programmers will take you seriously--there's nothing that can be done about that--just work with the situation).

If you live in San Francisco west of Twin Peaks, you can tune in San Francisco Liberation Radio at 93.7 FM. I do not know the studio line there. If you want to be called or e-mailed on a moment's notice about this, either e-mail me your phone number or leave it on our machine. We'll do everything we can You can help by calling your friends and asking them to call theirs and so forth.

Posted by harrybridges@yahoo.com

visit the Harry Bridges Action Brigade Page at:
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/7392/index.html