The Resolution below was introduced and APPROVED OVERWHELMINGLY at the Washington State Labor Council Convention last week. Please note that the recommended address for contributions is the “Dockers Defense Fund” in Charleston SC, rather than the “ILA Defense Fund” in NY. With appropriate word changes, that Resolution was introduced [and approved] at two branch meetings of my own Union [Marine Engineers Beneficial Association D1/PCD AFL-CIO]. It will come up next month at the other branch meetings.
In Solidarity,
Paul Norman
Resolution #16
WHEREAS, the Longshore workers of International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1422 and Local 1771, like all workers, have a right to picket in defense of their jobs; and
WHEREAS, the State of South Carolina purposefully provoked a confrontation on January 20, 2000, by sending in 600 riot-equipped police officers against both Locals’ pickets who were protesting a Danish ship using scabs to do work previously done by the Longshore unions and then charged five union members with felony “incite to riot” charges punishable by up to five years in prison; and
WHEREAS, no union, local or union members should be held financially responsible for employer losses when engaging in legal industrial actions in defense of their jobs; and
WHEREAS, Winyah Stevedoring Inc., the company that hired the scab labor in the Port of Charleston, is suing the Charleston ILA locals, the locals’ presidents and 27 individual members for $1. 5 million in alleged financial losses incurred because of the picketing; and
WHEREAS, if successful, these criminal charges and the civil lawsuit will have a chilling effect internationally on the struggle of trade unions attempting to defend themselves against WTO-style union busting; and
WHEREAS, the State of South Carolina is a right-to-work state with the lowest rate (3. 8 percent) of unionization in the country and the only state to fight to keep flying the Confederate flag at its state capitol, another target of protest by the membership of ILA Local 1422, which is more than 99 percent African American; and
WHEREAS, the American labor movement defends workers’ rights and civil rights for all people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall join in the national movement in support of the Charleston Longshore workers, will formally endorse the campaign and demand the state drop the criminal charges against the Charleston 5 and that WSI drop the civil lawsuit against both locals and their members; and, be it further
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall send a letter to the South Carolina Attorney General, Charles Condon, demanding the criminal charges be dropped; (Charles Condon, State Attorney General, P. O. Box 11549, Columbia, SC 29211, fax #803-734-4323 or info@scattorneygeneral.org) and one to WSI demanding it drop its civil lawsuit, (Perry Collins, Winyah Stevedoring, 2735 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29440); and, be it further
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall contribute financially to the defense of the Charleston 5; (checks made out to “Dockers Defense Fund” and sent to: Campaign for Workers Rights in South Carolina, P. O. Box 21777, Charleston, SC 29413); and, be it finally
RESOLVED that the Washington State Labor Council shall encourage all its affiliates and their members to join or form the Local Charleston Defense Committee in its area in this campaign for workers’ rights, contributing to the defense fund and joining in the planned international day of action against the state and the rogue employer.
