Occupy Ports Have Mixed Results December 12th, 2011 Occupy The Ports managed to temporarily shut down several terminals at ports up and down the West Coast (see articles below). I unfortunately was unable to check out the action until noon and by then all the protestors were gone from the Port in Long Beach, where some 300 to 500 demonstrators braved the pouring rain to blockade Terminal J and the roadway to the terminal for several hours this morning. Even though the protests were over, traffic was still backed up at noon to the terminal.
Occupy Oakland and Occupy Portland seem to have been more successful at shutting down terminals there and the Long View, WA. Port was also closed. This is the first significant flexing of the Occupy movements muscles with regards to the economic sector of the nation. As the unions have become an almost insignificant part of the work force, it will be up to direct action by community members to stand up for their economic rights. Fighting for jobs and better working conditions is something we all can relate to. Some workers complained about losing a few hours, but the inconvenience caused to a few workers is insignificant when considering the potential impact this can have on the national economy. This was just the first round. There will be others as the Occupy movement gains momentum. The ultimate goal is the transformation of America into a democracy of the people in all aspects of society. - >From CNN Occupy protesters disrupt West Coast ports By Mike Pearson, CNN updated 3:02 PM EST, Mon December 12, 2011 Occupy movement targets Western ports STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: Six arrested in San Diego, Long Beach protests "They are impacting the 99%," Portland port spokesman says "Whose port? Our port!" protesters chant At least one union distances itself from the effort (CNN) Protesters chanting, "Whose port? Our port!" protested at West Coast ports on Monday, temporarily shutting down some of the facilities in a protest against what they called corporate greed. The protesters, affiliated with the nationwide "Occupy" movement, set out in the pre-dawn hours in Oakland, California; Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, to shut down ports in an effort to "disrupt the economic machine that benefits the wealthiest individuals and corporations," according to organizers. Long Beach police arrested two people during the demonstration there, police Chief Jim McDonnell said. Port operations were not significantly impacted beyond some traffic delays, he said. A spokesman for the port in Portland, Oregon, said the protests had partially shut down the port there. In Oakland, the port said in a statement that operations were continuing "with sporadic disruptions for truckers trying to enter and exit marine terminal gates." About 80 protesters demonstrated outside the gate of San Diego's port, but caused no disruption because, port spokesman Ron Powell said. "They were there at a time when we really didn't have a lot of truck traffic coming in and out," he said. Four people who sat down in the road were arrested he said. San Diego police did not immediately return a telephone call seeking information on the arrests. Protesters were planning a second occupation of the Oakland port Monday afternoon. Protesters in Seattle also were preparing to protest at the port there, according to organizing websites and posts on Twitter. In addition to the West Coast port blockades, protesters also were planning to demonstrate at the port in Houston, while demonstrators in Salt Lake City and Denver were planning to disrupt operations of Walmart distribution facilities. About 40 to 50 people protested at the Denver facility, CNN affiliate KCNC reported. The demonstrations were part of a nationwide day of protest called in the aftermath of efforts by cities across the country, including New York, Boston and Oakland, to clear demonstrators from encampments they had set up in public parks and other locations. "We are occupying the ports as part of a day of action, boycott and march for full legalization and good jobs for all to draw attention to and protest the criminal system of concentrated wealth that depends on local and global exploitation of working people, and the denial of workers' rights to organize for decent pay, working conditions and benefits, in disregard for the environment and the health and safety of surrounding communities," organizers said on their website. http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/12/us/occupy-ports/ >From KTLA TV At Least 2 Arrested in `Occupy' Protest at Port of Long Beach Eric Spillman reports 9:07 a.m. PST, December 12, 2011 LONG BEACH (KTLA) Two weeks after their central command post at City Hall was dismantled by police, Occupy L.A. protesters are setting their sights on a new mission shutting down the Port of Los Angeles. They are trying to restrict access to the port by blocking roads, and at least two protesters have been arrested. Hundreds of protesters gathered at Harry Bridges Park in Long Beach, starting around 4 a.m. Monday. They marched to the gate of the Terminal J, where protesters were met by Long Beach police officers in riot gear. The protesters were blocking a roadway to the terminal, and officers tried to get them to move back into a designated protest area. One person was arrested in a scuffle as officers took away a metal barricade being held by some of the protesters. That man was dragged to the ground and taken away in handcuffs. Officials have said they plan to keep the port open, and anyone who disrupts its normal operations could be arrested. The protesters were targeting Terminal J because it houses shipping agent SSA Marine, which is partially owned by investment bank Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs received billions in government bailout money. "Not only are we targeting a company that has a particularly bad record with regard to labor management issues, but also a company that's really done a lot to loot the American treasury and the American taxpayer," protester Steve Kemp told KTLA. "We wanted to show that Goldman Sachs was one of our targets," protester `Marshal' said. "We wanted to shut down the terminal for the day because a world without Goldman Sachs would be much better." Police were gradually able to push the protesters back down the road away from Terminal J. The crowd then marched to the intersection of Harbor Scenic Drive and Windsor Drive, closer to the Queen Mary. A group of 300-400 hundred protesters blocked the intersection there, using construction materials like chunks of cement to block off the street. They forced trucks to turn around and effectively shut down down access to that part of the port. Officers from the Long Beach Police Department, the LAPD, the CHP and the Harbor Patrol were deployed around the intersection. At least one additional protester has been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to two. The port protest does not have the official support of the unions that represent port workers, but protesters hoped some workers would walk off the job. They have called on members from the International Longshoreman Worker's Union to join in what they hope is a full shutdown of ports along the West Coast. ILWU's president released a statement in October supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement after members were pepper-sprayed in a protest at the Port of Longview in Washington. "We know that justice won't be won by asking greedy employers for permission or waiting for politicians to pass laws," ILWU President Bob McEllrath said. Occupy movements in San Diego, Oakland and Seattle are also expected to take on their local ports. http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-occupy-ports,0,2198544.story >From Coalition For Clean and Safe Ports Dateline: Los Angeles/Long Beach An Open Letter from America's Port Truck Drivers on Occupy the Ports December 12, 2011 We are the front-line workers who haul container rigs full of imported and exported goods to and from the docks and warehouses every day. We have been elected by committees of our co-workers at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, New York and New Jersey to tell our collective story. We have accepted the honor to speak up for our brothers and sisters about our working conditions despite the risk of retaliation we face. One of us is a mother, the rest of us fathers. Between the five of us we have 11children and one more baby on the way. We have a combined 46 years of experience driving cargo from our shores for America's stores. We are inspired that a non-violent democratic movement that insists on basic economic fairness is capturing the hearts and minds of so many working people. Thank you "99 Percenters" for hearing our call for justice. We are humbled and overwhelmed by recent attention. Normally we are invisible. Today's demonstrations will impact us. While we cannot officially speak for every worker who shares our occupation, we can use this opportunity to reveal what it's like to walk a day in our shoes for the 110,000 of us in America whose job it is to be a port truck driver. It may be tempting for media to ask questions about whether we support a shutdown, but there are no easy answers. Instead, we ask you, are you willing to listen and learn why a one-word response is impossible The brothers and sisters of the Teamsters have our backs. They help us make our voices heard. But we need your help too so we can achieve the day where we raise our fists and together declare: "No one could stop us from forming a union." Thank you. In solidarity, Leonardo Mejia SSA Marine/Shippers Transport Express Port of Long Beach 10-year driver Yemane Berhane Ports of Seattle & Tacoma 6-year port driver Xiomara Perez Toll Group Port of Los Angeles 8-year driver Abdul Khan Port of Oakland 7-year port driver Ramiro Gotay Ports of New York & New Jersey 15-year port driver http://cleanandsafeports.org/blog/2011/12/12/an-open-letter-from-america%E2%80%99s-port-truck-drivers-on-occupy-the-ports/ >From the Washington Post Occupy protesters blocking gates at West Coast ports, halt operations at some By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, December 12, 12:57 PM OAKLAND, Calif. Hundreds of Wall Street protesters blocked gates at some of the West Coast's busiest ports on Monday, causing the partial shutdown of several in a day of demonstrations they hope will cut into the profits of the corporations that run the docks. The closures affected some of the terminals at the ports in Oakland, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Longview, Wash., though it was not immediately clear how much the shutdowns would affect operations and what the economic loss would be. West Coast Ports and Law Enforcement are preparing for possible disruptions, as Occupy protesters plan to blockade ports from San Diego to Anchorage. Demonstrators briefly closed down the port of Oakland in November. (Dec. 12)   >From California to as far away as Vancouver, British Columbia, protesters >picketed gates, beating drums, carrying signs such as "Shutdown Wall St. on >the Waterfront" and causing longer wait times for trucks. There were a handful of arrests so far, but no major clashes with police. While the demonstrations were largely peaceful and isolated to a few gates at each port, local officials in the union that represents longshoremen and, in some cases, port officials, determined that the conditions were unsafe for workers. In Oakland, shipping companies and the longshoremen's union agreed to send home about 150 workers, essentially halting operations at two terminals. In Portland, authorities shuttered two terminals after arresting two people who were carrying weapons. And in Longview, Wash., workers were sent home out of concerns for their "health and safety." The movement, which sprang up this fall against what it sees as corporate greed and economic inequality, is focusing on the ports as the "economic engines for the elite" in its most dramatic gesture since police raids cleared out most remaining Occupy tent camps last month. It was unclear whether demonstrators could amass in sufficient numbers to significantly disrupt or force more port closures as they did last month during an overnight shift at the Port of Oakland. The union that represents longshoremen says it doesn't support the shutdowns. Protesters are most upset by two West Coast companies: port operator SSA Marine and grain exporter EGT. The bank, Goldman Sachs, owns a major stake in SSA Marine and has been a frequent target of protesters. They say they are standing up for workers against the port companies, which have had high-profile clashes with union workers lately. Longshoremen at the Port of Longview, for example, have had a longstanding dispute with EGT. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/occupy-protesters-seek-to-shut-down-west-coast-ports-despite-rejection-by-longshore-union/2011/12/12/gIQA3zP3oO_story.html?tid=pm_pop ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
