Unofficial ILWU Local 19
History & Education
SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE FOR
THE AUSTRALIAN WHARFIES (SCAW) BULLETIN #2
LA DOCKS SHUTDOWN IN SUPPORT OF AUSTRALIAN WHARFIES!
Saturday May 9, 1998
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.
Fellow workers, join us on the solidarity picket line for the Australian
wharfies! For more info call the Solidarity Committee for the Australian
Wharfies.