Stop Coast Guard Union Busting

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Stop Coast Guard Union Busting

The Coast Guard is being used to escort a grain ship to the Port of Longview, WA where a corporation named CGT is trying to bust the ILWU, which has had jurisdiction over all longshore work there for more than 7 decades. [read details below]

Using the U.S. military against American workers represents a grave erosion of our rights and liberties.

The last time that happened was in 1981 when Reagan used military air traffic controllers to replace striking PATCO workers. American workers have been paying for that ever since because not enough workers and unions spoke up at the time to object.

We need to drown the president and our congressional representatives with messages that strongly object to any use of our military against American workers and our unions.  We need your help to make this protest effective.

It's quick and easy. Tell Obama and Congress "NO MORE PATCOs! Don't use our military to help bust unions!"

Please share this alert with your social networks.  Post it to your Facebook page.  Tweet about it.  Send messages to coworkers, colleagues and friends.  Ask unions, labor councils and other social justice and peace organizations to register their protest.*

Thanks for your help.

*Send copies of resolutions and letters to USLAW at 1718 M Street NW, #153, Washington, DC 20036.

Members of ILWU Local 21 in Longview, WA, are engaged in a bitter fight with the multinational grain conglomerte EGT for survival of their union's 70 year jurisdiction, the jobs for its members and the welfare of their families, standards of work secured by decades of struggle, and for the very existence of the union itself.

They have been picketing and demonstrating at the Port of Longview to compel EGT, which received public financing for a new $200 million terminal,  to honor the contract that ILWU has with the port covering all longshore work performed there.  The union has represented the dock workers there for more than 70 years.

EGT is bringing the first ship to the port where it will be loaded with grain bound for Asia.  The union and its supporters are determined that the ship will not be loaded by anyone except the ILWU members, as the contract requires. 

The local is receiving support from unions, labor councils, union members and allies throughout the region and beyond, including the Occupy movements in Portland, Seattle, Olympia and Oakland, which are organizing caravans to Longview when the ship is due to arrive.  That could occur within the next two weeks.

Recently, it has been reported that when the ship nears the mouth of the Columbia River for the eight hour trip up river to Longview, it will be accompanied by an armed Coast Guard cutter and helicopters.

Using U.S. military forces to intervene on behalf of the employer in a local labor dispute threatens the interests of every union and union member in the country.

The last time the U.S. military was mobilized against American workers in a labor dispute was when Reagan ordered military air traffic controllers to replace striking members of PATCO in 1981.  The time before that was when Nixon used the military against the nationwide postal strike in 1971. Both of these were nationwide strikes.

Reagan and Nixon were Republican presidents with a long record of hostility to organized labor. They proudly served to protect and advance the interests of corporations and the wealthy (the 1%). There never was any doubt whose side they were on.

Why then is a Democratic president elected with solid labor support becoming the first to use federal military forces against workers in a local labor dispute at a single small port involving a shipment of grain?

Over the course of the last decade of the "War on Terror", we have witnessed the militarization of transportation, militarization of the police, the militarization of the courts, the militarization of education, growing threats to our Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly, and - with the recent enactment of the Natonal Defense Authorization Act - even to due process and the right of U.S. citizens to a speedy trial by a jury of one's peers.

The entire labor movement and every union member and citizen concerned with the preservation of our Constitutional rights should register the strongest possible objection to this threat to our democracy. 

Unions, labor councils, civil liberties and other social justice organizations should write or call the White House and their Congressional delegation to demand that the Coast Guard and other military services play no part in the labor dispute in Longview or anywhere else in the U.S.  

SIGN THE OPEN LETTER

TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

Please share this call with coworkers, colleagues, friends and your social network.  Spread the word and involve others in telling the President:

MILITARY UNION BUSTING?

NOW THAT'S DISGUSTING!!!

These organizations have expressed their Solidarity with Local 21