Dockworkers walk off job at ports up and down coast to protest war (SFGate article with pics)

[Kadie]

Dockworkers walk off job at ports up and down coast to protest war
Tyche Hendricks, Carolyn Jones,Charles Burress, Chronicle Staff Writers

Thursday, May 1, 2008

(05-01) 15:30 PDT SAN FRANCISCO - -- The Bay Area celebrated May Day in traditional fashion today - with an array of protests around the region - for an end to the war in Iraq, against education budget cuts and in favor of legalization for undocumented immigrants.

Dockworkers with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union made the biggest impact today, walking off the job at ports up and down the West Coast calling for an end to the war. Union officials estimated the number of workers at 25,000 while maritime officials placed the number closer to 10,000.

The work stoppage included the ports of San Francisco and Oakland, where the protests began about dawn.

About three-dozen anti-war protesters rallied outside the Port of Oakland's rail terminal for around three hours, conducting a "soft picket": waving signs and urging truckers and other port workers to join the longshore workers in staying off the job, but not trying to block their access. After about three hours, they packed up their signs and marched from the port to their cars to drive to San Francisco, where they joined a larger march and rally.

"Were here to support the longshore union workers," said Toby Blone, of El Cerrito, who was carrying a large peace symbol fashioned from a hula hoop and covered in artificial flowers. "This is a very courageous effort they're doing."

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/01/BA4K10F7K3.DTL



Dockworkers walk off job at ports up and down coast to protest war
Peace activists march up Middle Harbor Road after blocking several entrances to the Port of Oakland, effectively shutting down port activities, on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Chronice photo by Paul Chinn


Dockworkers walk off job at ports up and down coast to protest war
Protesters march from Fisherman's Wharf to Justin Herman Plaza to mark May Day in San Francisco on Thursday, May 1, 2008. Chronicle photo by Kurt Rogers

[nebula]

1. Haha that's awesome

[Possumpoint]

5. Hey Hey,

1st of May, outside screwing starts today.

A little ditty from my youth.

Glad to see someone trying to bring a halt to the Iraq war. It would be nice if the Senate and House of Representatives could face down the die hard Republican War Mongers and stop this insanity.

[nebula]

6. Only the people can stop it now

like the article says.

Congress won't lift a finger.

[fed-up]

2. beautiful-hope they don't bring out the rubber bullets in Oakland nt

[Webster Green]

7. I think they learned their lesson last time.

Fuckin' pigs!

[superkia]

3. Nice to see some others putting others in front of their own priorities...

and taking the hit in the pocket. I wish we could have completely shutdown DC at last years march so that the media would have to cover it but too many are afraid to lose their jobs or cant afford to give up a days pay. Good job by all of those dockworkers!

[Zodiak]

4. Join them!

We should ALL join them. GENERAL STRIKE!!

Nothing else gets their attention.