Kenneth Riley, President of Local 1422, International Longshoremens Association, Charleston, SC, was a guest speaker at a meeting of the San Francisco Bicycle Messengers Association. The Bike messengers invited the public to attend in order to hear Riley.
As most of you know his local was attacked by over 600 local and state cops, for defending their union and jobs by an attempt by the Danish shipping Company Nordana to use scab labor on the Charleston docks. Five members of Local 1422 have been indicted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Riley and 25 other Longshoremen as well as his local and the Clerk’s local are facing civil lawsuits. Riley said the response of the Charleston Dockworkers is “bring it on”. They’ve retained first class legal representation. Part of that cost is being defrayed by the $135, 000 contributed by the ILWU.
There has also been international support. Nordana regularly calls on the Spanish ports of Valencia and Barcelona. Spanish dockworkers have warned Nordana, they won’t touch any scab cargo.
The Charleston dockworkers are extending support to other unions in South Carolina who are trying to organize. They have also organized a 2,000 member rank and file committee to fight for change in the ILA, which has, historically been dominated by a conservative and ossified leadership.
On the subject of union leaders who won’t risk a fight, because of the risk to the union treasury, Riley says,“ If you lose jobs, to save your treasury, you’re going to lose your treasury anyway. If you fight and save jobs, you can always build your treasury back up. ” Well said, Brother Riley. A collection was taken up for the Charleston Dockworkers defense fund, and the Bike Messengers passed a motion to make a contribution on behalf of their group.
Riley is a delegate to the ILA convention, being held in Tahoe, this weekend. It was a very inspiring meeting, about an inspiring group of workers.
Ken Morgan, Local 6
