Monday is the big day where supporters of the Occupy movement are aiming to shut down the ports of up to 23 cities American cities, including ours.
Portland’s own group held a brief press conference this morning about their plans for the wee morning hours at the Port of Portland. I condensed the essentials into these details.
Why try to shut down the port?
One reason voiced at this morning’s press conference is that ports are the “production and distribution of the 1%.” Basically, the protesters want to show that large crowd of regular people can shut down major business operations. A related reason is to protest of America’s free trade policies and NAFTA, since imports and exports reach and leave Oregon via the port.
How are protesters going to shut it down?
The plan is to meet at Kelley Point Park in far, far North Portland at 6am, hold a rally and march to picket the entrances to several port terminals for one business day. They hope that workers will decide not to cross the picket lines. However, Kelley Point Park is only reachable by two roads, so it’s likely police could blockade those roads and stop the meet-up. Protest organizers say they do have a contingency plan in that case, though they’re mum on what it would be.
Are the actual port workers joining the protest?
While two rank-and-file members of local unions voiced their support for the shutdown at the press conference, the big unions at the port are officially not giving their support. Today, a labor source acknowledged it’s very likely that several individual union members, especially those who are sympathetic to Occupy and working heavily with the movement, will join the shutdown. Workers may be eligible to take sick time or personal leave off on Monday, for example.
Behind the scenes, some union leaders are expressing reservations about the timing of and message behind the shutdown. For instance, the action may wind up targeting an export shipment from an Oregon business, and not an import. “The problem with the port shutdown is that people are hurting people who will lose a day’s work,” the source said, though we haven’t confirmed what exactly is being shipped at the port on Monday.
Behind the scenes, demonstrators have been aware from the start that there are different terminals for imports or exports. The occupiers have it sorted out 😉
I’m torn on this one. On one hand, it’s reminiscent of the tea party (the Colonial protest, not the 1/2 @$$ed conservative movement). On the other hand, I hate the idea of cost dock workers their paychecks this close to Christmas.
Mis-guided.
reid, couldn’t you have talked some sense?
James, longshoremen still get paid if they do not cross a picket.
reid, you are wrong on both counts. Longshoremen do not get paid if they do not cross the picket line, and the only terminal in Portland that does not currently handle exports is Terminal-2, which is on Front Avenue, not anywhere near Kelley Point Park. All other terminals in Portland handle exports.
I don’t care if you are wrong, and I don’t care if you shut down the ports, but please don’t pass off inaccurate information.
Where are the longshoremen of the past, instead of the pussies that we have now days. The longshoremen back then would never let these stinky hippies block them from their jobs. They would be beating down the OccuTards with 2x4s and baseball bats, something I would pay to see.
Screwing around railroads and docks are not the same as playing in the streets, with a weak pederast mayor. I hope the feds get involved, with lots of mass arrests.
Aren’t the longshoremen also part of the 1%? A lot of these workers are pulling in six figures.
Beavy, I think your knowledge of longshore worker history is a little wobbly.
This whole action seems kind of tangential. In my view, if you have to explain why the action is being taken, it probably isn’t a good one.
“For instance, the action may wind up targeting an export shipment from an Oregon business, and not an import.” – This sounds like speculation. Where’s your proof?
@commentycolin Tell that to the thousands of people that marched from Salem to Montgomery after “Bloody Sunday”. It’s called a press release, EVERYONE does it.
I also want to reiterate one of the MAIN reasons that we are doing this, (that the article completely left out)-
This action is in solidarity with the Longshoreman and truckers’ long-time struggle against EGT. EGT is a union busting international corporation, (that is why Japan is now on board for the Shutdown). These workers are LEGALLY not allowed to strike because of NATO, of course they are going to distance themselves officially, but there has been outreach from Occupy Portland to the workers and what they are finding out is that the rank-and-file are on our side, with the 99%
I still haven’t figured out how this could be considered “union busting” if the contract is still being fulfilled by union workers. They just don’t happen to be ILWU.
*These workers are LEGALLY not allowed to strike because of anti-trust laws
@commentycolin You *know* these ports are all owned by Goldman Sachs, right? Doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to know that whatever those dudes touch turns to exploitation.
AND! trying to say the port workers don’t support us is pure bullshit, in longview 12 union workers were arrested for direct action blockading EGT rail lines in September. They support us. They ARE us.
It just seems like a bullshit move on the part of the Occupiers here in Portland. Seriously, find someway to make your statement without screwing up the 99% trying to go to work. WTF. This is just getting lame and annoying, and the further this sad attempt at trying to ride on the coattails of valid movements in the past makes it look like a bunch of trustafarians with too much time on their hands. Get organized! Do something valid. Stop messing with us!
Tawd,
In your version of “On the Waterfront”, you would cast Edward T. Hall III in place of Marlon Brando. ILWU and ILA have participated in political events, like boycotts of fascist states and the even the Soviet Union. They also will never cross a strike line. The OWS are doing neither and longshoremen of the past would never have put up with these misinformed, smelly, drug smoking hippies. I’ll say it again, the leadership of the longshoremen are a bunch of pussies and these men deserve better leadership.
I’m sick of this occutard cult shit.