General Strike
Brothers and Sisters:
I say, let’s call for a one day General Strike, nationwide, on the opening day of the trial of the Charleston 5! Not to put anyone on the spot, but I think this call should be made by Sweeney and the “top”, but, can we place ourselves in a position to help such a call come about?
Bill Proctor
local #19
Bill:
I believe we can do just that. If every Local calls for a shut down then the International has no choice but to try and get help from Sweeney & Hoffa. We all have Stop Work Meetings this month. Let each Local pass a resolution that calls for a SHUT DOWN.
In Solidarity
Jerry, 60943
Tacoma
On the Road with the Charleston 5
It’s been a busy summer for ILA Local 1422 President, Ken Riley, of Charleston, SC. As most of you know, he had a successful tour of Seattle and San Francisco, speaking to rallies to support the Charleston 5 last month.
On August 17, some 250 people turned out to hear Riley speak at Teamsters Local 705 hall in Chicago, where $5,000 was raised for the defense committee. Other speakers included Dolores Withers, President of American Federation of Teachers Local 1708; Roberta Lynch, Deputy Director of American Federation of State, County, and Munincipal Employees Council 31, among others. Gary Zero, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 705 presented a check of $2,500 from his union.
August 23, Riley gave a presentation in New York, where he was greeted to a standing ovation, and his speech was followed by the audience breaking into labor’s anthem, “solidarity forever”. Sounds like a rowdy crowd. About 250 people showed up. Riley took up the issue of how management tries to divide workers along racial lines, especially in the south. He stated, “if you’ve got a poor white man, and a poor black man, what’s the difference? Both are poor!” Well said! One of his most constant statements is, “the best cure for poverty is unionization.” Couldn’t have said it better myself. Also speaking was Roger Toussaint, President of Transport Workers Union Local 100 which hosted the event. A member of the American Postal Workers Union summed it up pretty good by saying,“This fight links the issue of African-American rights with trying to organize labor in the south. It’s important to have solidarity and not just complacency in our unions. This is an attack on all of us.”
As much success as we’ve had in getting the word out, we still have a lot to do, especially building for the International Day of Action, and deciding what those of us not in longshore should do. I’d like to hear more suggestions. So far there have been a couple of suggestions that work stoppages not be limited to Longshore Div. of the ILWU. Not bad.
Ken Morgan, Local 6
ITF European tour
Just for your information: After consultation of the ITF in London, the Norwegian Transport workers’ Union has invited Kenneth Riley to address their conference, which will take place from 16 to 20 September. His address will be followed by David Cockroft, the General Secreatry of the ITF. Than there will be discussion and debate. The invitation got the full support of ILA HQ in New York, which will pay for Kenneth’s ticket. I am now consulting other ITF affiliates in Europe for an expansion of his European tour.
Kees Marges
ITF Dockers’ Section Secretary
