-Caveat Lector- LABOR NOTES August 2001 Portland: Anti-Terrorism Task Force Targets Unions By Leah Samuel "They did it in the '30s, they did it in the '60s, and they're doing it now," said Bob Marshall, organizing director of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. He is talking about local and federal law enforcement targeting unions for surveillance and arrest. Portland unions want to get rid of a law allowing the police and the FBI to spy on them. Union organizers say that the Portland Joint Terrorism Task Force targets workers and unions. Portland's city council passed the ordinance in a quick vote the day before Thanksgiving last year. The ordinance increased the number of Portland police officers assigned to "anti-terrorism" duty, and put them under the direct supervision of the FBI. The ordinance also allows the FBI electronic access to photographs gathered by Portland police. The original wording of the ordinance was enough to give some workers and activists pause. The proposal's mission statement said the law's purpose "is to identify and target for prosecution those individuals or groups who are responsible for Right Wing and or Left Wing movements..." In addition, unions are concerned that the Hobbs Act is being cited in defense of these task forces. The Hobbs Act prohibits the use of force to interfere with a business's operations. This law has historically been used to stop or punish union organizing, picketing, and other activities since its enactment in 1946. TERRORISM TASK FORCES Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) are partnerships between the FBI and local police forces. An outgrowth of the l996 Anti-Terrorist Act JTTFs are operating in various cities including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Denver, and Sacramento. Recent incidents of police interference with workers have escalated concerns. When International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 5 organized workers at Powell's Books last year, Portland police videotaped store workers and took notes on them at rallies and on picket lines. A Carpenters union member who stood up to speak at a Jobs with Justice meeting was later phoned by police and questioned about an upcoming demonstration. In addition, protectors from environmental and animal rights groups have complained of police harassment. Marshall worries that stepped-up police surveillance further hampers organizing efforts, which already face significant hurdles. "There's already a constricting environment for organizing," he said. "From the NLRB being a piece of junk to the Hobbs Act. "As we have to be more aggressive to get a contract, we're going to be spied on because we're having a militant action in the streets," he added. The ordinance that created the task force is up for review this fall. Unions are campaigning to revoke the law. So far, 20 unions have signed on to a resolution demanding revocation, including locals of the Teamsters, AFT, ILWU, SEIU, CWA, and AFSCME. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
