Well... They Ain't Playin... 'Occupy Oakland Calls for TOTAL WEST COAST PORT SHUTDOWN ON 12/12'

[WillyT]

Occupy Oakland Calls for TOTAL WEST COAST PORT SHUTDOWN ON 12/12
Proposal for a Coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown, Passed With Unanimous Consensus by vote of the Occupy Oakland General Assembly 11/18/2012
Posted 50 minutes ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 8:35 p.m. EST
by OccupyWallSt



<snip>

Proposal for a Coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown, Passed With Unanimous Consensus by vote of the Occupy Oakland General Assembly 11/18/2012:

In response to coordinated attacks on the occupations and attacks on workers across the nation:

Occupy Oakland calls for the blockade and disruption of the economic apparatus of the 1% with a coordinated shutdown of ports on the entire West Coast on December 12th. The 1% has disrupted the lives of longshoremen and port truckers and the workers who create their wealth, just as coordinated nationwide police attacks have turned our cities into battlegrounds in an effort to disrupt our Occupy movement.

We call on each West Coast occupation to organize a mass mobilization to shut down its local port. Our eyes are on the continued union-busting and attacks on organized labor, in particular the rupture of Longshoremen jurisdiction in Longview Washington by the EGT. Already, Occupy Los Angeles has passed a resolution to carry out a port action on the Port Of Los Angeles on December 12th, to shut down SSA terminals, which are owned by Goldman Sachs.

Occupy Oakland expands this call to the entire West Coast, and calls for continuing solidarity with the Longshoremen in Longview Washington in their ongoing struggle against the EGT. The EGT is an international grain exporter led by Bunge LTD, a company constituted of 1% bankers whose practices have ruined the lives of the working class all over the world, from Argentina to the West Coast of the US. During the November 2nd General Strike, tens of thousands shutdown the Port Of Oakland as a warning shot to EGT to stop its attacks on Longview. Since the EGT has disregarded this message, and continues to attack the Longshoremen at Longview, we will now shut down ports along the entire West Coast.

Participating occupations are asked to ensure that during the port shutdowns the local arbitrator rules in favor of longshoremen not crossing community picket lines in order to avoid recriminations against them. Should there be any retaliation against any workers as a result of their honoring pickets or supporting our port actions, additional solidarity actions should be prepared. In the event of police repression of any of the mobilizations, shutdown actions may be extended to multiple days.

In Solidarity and Struggle,

Occupy Oakland

Link: http://occupywallst.org/article/occupy-oakland-calls-total-west-coast-port-shutdow/

:patriot:

:kick:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I LOVE OCCUPY! nt

[socialist_n_TN]

6. I love Occupy OAKLAND............

They understand how militant you have to be in order to challenge the dictatorship of capital. I hope they can pull it off, but once again we'll just have to see.

It puts organized labor in an interesting situation. This is a call in support of a UNION that's under attack on the west coast. Ergo you'd think that the unions would HAVE to support it, even the labor bureaucracy. However it is a MILITANT action, which is not something that organized labor (or at least the bureaucracy) is comfortable with. Which way will they jump?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

23. Everything is being tested, thank God. And the most important thing: the message is being spread

I consider the message to be THE most vital thing of all. That everyone find out the truth about what's been done to this country, by whom, how long.

[MedleyMisty]

34. If I lived in Oakland, I'd be there

My own occupy has never been raided, so they aren't radicalized. And even if they were, they wouldn't be as militant as Oakland. I feel like my heart is in Oakland, but I live on the other side of the country. So I do what I can for them and spread their message as much as I can.

I've found a circle of Oakland peeps to follow on Twitter, and yeah - they know what's up. They're intelligent, radical, and ready to fight. God I wish I lived there, instead of here in this banker town where our Occupy has drama over the colors on the website.

[socialist_n_TN]

39. Yep. To paraphrase the Stones..........

In sleepy Nashville town there just no place for a Street Fighting Man. :)

I agree about Oakland. Of all of the Occupys that I've been paying attention to, they are the ones who have it MOSTLY together as far as the big picture goes.

[coalition_unwilling]

58. Occupy Los Angeles is not too shabby, but needs to shed the

"End the Fed" Ron Paul-bot malarkey, imo.

OLA is supporting 12/12 action at port of San Pedro.

[socialist_n_TN]

65. Yeah I saw that coalition...........

I didn't mean to dis OLA, but I've got to admit that I have a HUGE crush on Occupy Oakland. That bunch is MILITANT. AND they see the benefit of supporting and doing united front work with the more militant sections of the working class, like the ILWU. Hell ALL of California's occupy groups are ahead of the Tennessee groups in militancy, so I admire all of y'all. Of course being rousted violently by the cops a few times probably has something to do with that.

[MADem]

2. This is like a one day strike by the longshoremen and port truckers. nt

[roguevalley]

3. longshoreman's union and the teamsters will be happy to comply

they have many times before. :)

[Lionessa]

4. Why the ports, why not banks, and financial centers?

I'm glad the longshoremen are likely to do this and work with it, but seems Occupy isn't staying aimed at the best targets.

[Lindsay]

7. Sometimes you need to fight the battles you're pretty sure

you can win. Gives you some good experience for the ones that are dicier.

And there's pretty much no end of worthwhile battles in this war.

[socialist_n_TN]

8. They're ALL best targets.........

And this is smart on the part of Occupy Oakland because it puts themselves on the side of one of the hottest labor struggles happening today. IOW, it furthers the tie between the Occupy movement and the working class as represented by one of the more militant unions out there.

[Zorra]

54. +1

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. You realize the economic cost

if this goes off, to the companies like oh Matson? And it is the high time to bring crap for the shitty season (aka CONSUME forget the true many of the day)

Nah, it is a good target.

[Lionessa]

27. Yes, but my thought is that the people not getting paid for the day are our folks,

seems the people that need to be directly impeded might be their folks. I do think though that their folks right now are too protected by the police and probably more difficult to directly effect.

I get it, I just feel a bit for the LSM that will be losing income.

[dixiegrrrrl]

22. They explain in the OP.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

24. There are SO many battles to be fought. nt

[Zorra]

5. My sister lives in LA. I'm pretty sure I'll be visiting her for a few days around 12/12.

:bounce:

[freshwest]

30. Be sure to tell us how it goes!

[Zorra]

42. Will do. If they drive Occupy LA from camp before then, I'm sure the festivities

will attract many, many more partygoers, and make the event an even more *stunning* success.

[FarCenter]

9. Bunge is not "constituted of 1% bankers"

Bunge may be one of the three vampire squids of the global grain trade, along with Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, but it is not made up of bankers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunge_Limited

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. But it is part of them, now isn't it?

[FarCenter]

18. What them are you asking about?

Bunge Limited engages in the agriculture and food businesses worldwide. Its Agribusiness segment principally involves in the purchase, storage, transport, processing, and sale of agricultural commodities and commodity products, including oilseeds and grains, primarily soybeans, rapeseed or canola, sunflower seed, wheat, and corn. This segment offers its oilseeds and grains to animal feed manufacturers, wheat and corn millers, and other oilseed processors; and oilseed meal products to animal feed manufacturers, as well as livestock, poultry, and aquaculture producers. The company’s Sugar and Bioenergy segment produces and sells sugar and ethanol derived from sugarcane, as well as energy derived from sugarcane bagasse. This segment also engages in international trading and merchandising of sugar and ethanol. Its Edible oil products segment produces and sells packaged vegetable oils, including packaged and bulk oils, shortenings, margarines, mayonnaise, and other products to baked goods companies, snack food producers, restaurant chains, foodservice distributors, and other food manufacturers. The company’s Milling products segment offers various wheat flours and bakery mixes, and corn-based products from corn dry milling process; corn milling products, such as dry milled corn meals, flours, and grits; and soy-fortified corn meal, corn-soy blend, and other similar products to industrial, bakery, and foodservice companies, as well as food processing sector. This segment also produces corn oil and corn animal feed products; and bulk and packaged milled rice. Its Fertilizer segment involves in producing, blending, and distributing nitrogen, phosphate, and potash fertilizer formulations for the cultivation of various crops, including soybeans, corn, sugarcane, cotton, wheat, and coffee. The company operates primarily in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Bunge Limited was founded in 1818 and is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=BG+Profile

---

As far as I can find, they are a Bermuda corporation with headquarters in White Plains that is in a variety of agribusinesses. They are not in banking, and they are not run by bankers.

Certainly upper management may be in the 1% by virtue of income or assets, and the rich, secretive Belgian/Argentinian families that owned Bunge as a private company before it went public are certainly in the global 1%, although its doubtful that many live in the US.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Part of the 1%

it is one of the largest transnationals and it has been trying to bust a union for a while.

In fact the last time any of these fights were done at the SAME PORT the company name was Matson. And trust me, Matson was (and still is) much smaller.

Is it that difficult to understand that OWS is NOT JUST about Bankers? Here is a hint. they are also concerned about the FOOD SUPPLY.

Read the Declaration of the General Assembly, or listen to Keith read it

http://current.com/community/93480033_general-assembly-declaration-countdown-with-keith-olbermann.htm

These things are NOT that difficult to find.

[freshwest]

28. Thanks nadine, that reading was powerful and will be shared for those who prefer audio.

The full text is easy to find, as well.

[socialist_n_TN]

21. A little background on the ILWU and Bunge struggle

from last summer: http://www.workerspower.net/ilwu-battling-back-on-longview-ports

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. K&R!

[Philosopher King]

11. It might be a good idea to discuss this with their PR guy first...

Not to mention the working men and women whose wages will suffer as a result of this action.

[socialist_n_TN]

12. Well I guess the ILWU could let Bunge just bust their union

Then they could ALL work for slave wages and whatever crumbs the capitalists want to throw them. :sarcasm:

Whether it was planned as such or not, it actually is a pretty shrewd move on the part of OO. They're putting themselves MILITANTLY into one of the hottest union struggles happening today ON THE SIDE OF THE WORKERS. So how will one of the more militant unions around today respond?

[Philosopher King]

36. It would be one thing if striking longshoremen shut down the port.

But people who do not work as longshoremen at these ports have no right to do so. As I mentioned earlier, the only people who will be hurt by this are some 99%ers who drive trucks and operate cranes.

It appears that the Oakland movement is being co-opted by the anarchists who instigated the earlier violence there. If they are wise, they will consult an attorney prior to moving forward, as the organized nature of this could prompt the feds to intervene under racketeering laws.

[socialist_n_TN]

38. Well is it OK with you if BOTH do so?

It appears that the ILWU has an outside ally. It's called working class solidarity and, in spite of the fact that it's illegal, it's most definitely needed.

[coalition_unwilling]

59. Occupy Los Angeles is also reaching out to the Teamsters' locals (aka

the very truck drivers for whom you claim so much concern).

OLA is not being co-opeted by anarchists. WTF?

[Ikonoklast]

15. You have assumed that they haven't done so already.

You do understand the use of proxies in a labor dispute, genius?

[socialist_n_TN]

17. Hell, even I hadn't thought of that..........

That makes it even MORE promising. IF that is the case. Labor and the Occupy movement uniting for joint PLANNED actions. NOW we're getting somewhere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Locally the local actions such as the bridge

are coordinated with he Central Labor Council...

It just is

[Philosopher King]

37. Not entirely...but as far as I can tell the ILWU has not called for strike.

Thus, this is not a labor dispute.

[socialist_n_TN]

40. The ILWU cannot OFFICIALLY call for a strike

It's against the law. That doesn't mean they aren't militant about supporting their rights, INCLUDING a wildcat strike.

[piratefish08]

16. Kick. Shit is ON!

[Zorra]

25. _^_

[sabrina 1]

26. The Longshoremen have been in need of this for a long time.

I love these people. They are back, they have a new home, and these Multi-National Corps and the American collaborators who allowed them to take away the jobs of Longshoremen, deserve this.

[footinmouth]

29. I have mixed feelings

My son is a crew member on one of those ships. He's union and he's scheduled to make a run up the west coast beginning Dec. 1. There's a lot more people involved than just the longshoremen. Will the ships be able to get in and out of the port, or is it just the loading and unloading that will be targeted? I'm just curious. I guess they can just sit out there in the Pacific until they can get into port. Hopefully, it will only be a 1-day disruption.

[freshwest]

31. Possibly he'll get shore leave if they won't unload the cargo?

[nadinbrzezinski]

33. Depend on how backed up they get for berths

it is a one day action anyway...

And your son will be paid regardless.

[footinmouth]

44. I guess it's all just part of that profession

Mariners get to deal with stuff like pirates, hurricanes, typhoons and civil unrest in some pretty unstable areas. I guess they won't be that phased by a one-day port shutdown.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. San Diego just agreed to it too

Mind you, I got no clue what they are going to shut down...

We have the cruise ship terminal within walking distance. The other side of the lock is not that reachable... after that it is naval bases... I am sure I will soon find out.

[freshwest]

43. Thanks Nadine, you've taught us so much about southern CA. and keep us in the loop.

Your verbal pictures are very helpful in understanding the place and what is happening. You are incredible.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[Zorra]

60. +1

[Starry Messenger]

35. k&r

[socialist_n_TN]

41. BTW, for the doubters, this is NOT a serious revolutionary action

This is merely another shot across the bow of the 1%. Like the Oakland general strike. This is just a little closer shot using bigger ordinance.

We're giving the capitalists a chance to back off by gradually increasing the pressure. So what do the capitalist do? It's up to them.

[stillwaiting]

47. They will up the violence. I hope I'm wrong. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

51. Quite possibly they will, but...........

the alternative (doing nothing) is intolerable. A neofeudal oligarchy that is corporate fascism is the end result they seek. And working class action is the only way to stop it. The working class controls corporate profit by their labor.

We will keep reacting and increasing the pressure until they back off. Or until we are crushed. If we're crushed, we're all slaves anyway. There are no good choices now.

[stillwaiting]

52. Complete agreeance. We have no choice. nt

[Zorra]

45. kick

[Zorra]

46. _^_ back to the top with you_^_

[fadedrose]

48. Don't forget the washrooms

The people who clean sinks, toilets, and floors, and put out the tissue, handsoap and towels in all businesses in CA should join the west coast shutdown. It bothers me that these jobs are considered to be so unimportant when they are every bit as important as the ports or the people running the computers that run the ports.

Somebody organize these people, pleeeze, and have them join in on 12/12.

[socialist_n_TN]

50. I agree, but then you would be talking about a general strike

which is a different animal than a targeted action like this. A regional targeted action around a specific grievence (the Longview, WA. struggle), is easier to organize and garner support for than a general strike. BUT it IS good practice FOR organizing a regional general strike in the future.

Now if you're talking about the janitors, maids, etc AT THE PORT OFFICES, then you might have something. :)

[fadedrose]

53. They should be the FIRST to strike

and for sure the office workers and dockworkers will follow without any persuasion from anybody :) :O

Trouble is, the cleaning people probably can't afford to strike in most places...

[Zorra]

49. +^+

[Zorra]

55. kick

[socialist_n_TN]

56. Kick for the hell of it........

:)

[Zorra]

57. daily conch call

[lonestarnot]

61. !

[appleannie1]

62. Go Occupy West Coast.

[Fire Walk With Me]

63. #OccupyOakland proposal for total west coast port shutdown has PASSED UNANIMOUSLY!

#OccupyOakland proposal for total west coast port shutdown has PASSED UNANIMOUSLY!

Just seen on http://www.ustream.tv/occupyoakland

[Zorra]

64. Uh-oh. And Villaraigosa is evicting Occupy LA. Perfect Storm a comin' to SoCal..

Mayor's office says Occupy L.A. encampment will end next week
November 23, 2011 | 5:48 pm

He referred questions about evictions from the park to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police officials declined to discuss how they would handle any campers who refuse to leave.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/mayors-office-says-occupy-la-encampment-will-end-next-week.html

Hollywood, here I come!

**OWS brothers and sisters: Bring video equipment if you can. This is when they are going to frame us with the staged violence trip.**