At 6:00 PM Saturday, ILWU Local 10 and 34 represented longshoremen and clerks dispatched to work the vessel ZIM Shanghai at SSA’s Oakland California Terminal were met with hostile demonstrators, effectively blocking all access to the terminal. Longshoremen and Clerks trying to report to work were threatened physically at some points of ingress and their personal vehicles were physically blocked. As such, all personnel stood-by outside of the demonstration perimeters for health and safety purposes. At approximately 8 PM SSA released all personnel from work.

As far as the union can ascertain, the protests are organized by a coalition of individuals and organizations that plan events and create action alerts under the name of “Block the Boat for Gaza” online.

The ILWU is not among the groups organizing the protests, and the leadership and membership of the ILWU have taken no position on the Israel/Gaza conflict.

ILWU Coast Longshore Division news release: Saturday, September 27, 2014

Contacts:

Jennifer Sargent, 503-703-2933

Craig Merrilees, 510-774-5325

Right?

They could have just crossed the picket lines. The shore is HUGE, and there are multiple ways in. Plus, these are ILWU - they could have just barged through with a van.

They just decided not to cross, and cite safety reasons, so they won't get fired.

Then the company was shut down for the day.

Success.

They tried. Apparently some morons used their children as human shields to prevent the dockworkers from getting in.

Photo by John Harvey. This is the adult that put the young child at risk on the Oakland Docks

photo by john harvey

Extremist Paul larudee was at the Oakland Docks

You get too deep into this thing, and you end up with ideas like taking a child to the protest is a "human shield".

She probably didn't have a babysitter, and took her kid to the picket.

Also, it's the management that barged the line, not the ILWU. Your headline misrepresents the position of the ILWU.

The boat was stopped, and the day ended early. This was a huge victory for the Block the Boat protest.

Thanks for the link to the person who was tweeting. Here is a compilation of tweets from that person. Shows a different kind of action.

Hope it uploads OK.

[Just got this email - the movement is growing in Los Angeles. After the successful blockade of ZIM at the Oakland port, confidence is high. There is no business as usual when the government of Israel is operating in a racist and oppressive manner against the people in Gaza.]

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

NEXT TWO PLANNING MEETINGS:

Sunday, October 5

First Congregational Church, Klar Rooms 1 & 2

241 Cedar Avenue

Long Beach, CA 90802

Cross street - Third Street

Directions: http://www.firstchurchlb.org/parking.html

Parking: Check the lot at Third and Cedar but park only in spaces marked "Church Reserved." Don't park in the non-church spaces because you will receive a ticket. Also, we can park in the lot on the northeast corner of Third and Chestnut. Metered parking on the street is free on Sundays.

Sunday, October 12

St. Luke's Episcopal Church - Community Center

525 E 7th Street

Long Beach, CA 90813

Cross-street is Atlantic. Directions: http://www.stlukeslb.org/contact-us

Please park in the lot on 7th Street at Linden. The Community Center is next to that lot.

Out of consideration for our environment, please try to carpool to meetings. You can post ride availability/needs on our Face Book page: https://www.facebook.com/events/435461866594072/455613667912225/?notif_t=like

NEXT ACTIONS - SAVE THESE DATES:

Saturday, October 4 - Outreach action. Watch for details on the Face Book page and forthcoming emails.

Saturday, October 18 - Full blockade action at the port. Watch for details on the Face Book page and forthcoming emails.