Puget Sound Rally
As of now the trial is set for Nov. 14th. The Puget Sound Area Committee will be meeting every Monday night planning a RALLY for that day. How many other committees are planning a RALLY? Please let us know what you are planning so we can inform every one of what is going on in other areas. I will posting fliers in our hall asking that everyone take that day off. Let’s pull together in support of our Brothers in Charleston and attend a RALLY in your area.
In Solidarity
Jerry, 60943
Tacoma
I am sick that day
Good for you and your brothers in Tacoma. As far as I know my local is NOT planning to do anything. Don’t know about the others but I think I am sick that day. . . . .
Tim, 35181
Flu epidemic
Great Tim, I think everyone should have the 24 hour flu. We will have definite time and place of the RALLY by next week. Can tell you it will be held in Seattle. And there will be many unions and community organizations represented. The more the merrier please attend if you can.
In Solidarity
Jerry, 60943
Tacoma
Bay Area Rally
The Bay Area’s Charleston Defense Committee is meeting Thursday Oct.25,7PM at Local 10 to organize a rally for Nov.14 at the newly-named Harry Bridges Plaza on the San Francisco waterfront where The Big Strike began in ‘34. Now more than ever unions need to pull together and defend labor’s right to picket and to protest whether on the street or on the docks. ILWU has been supporting the Charleston longshoremen for nearly 2 years now. ALL LOCALS voted to support them financially and through an international day of action on the first day of the trial. The vote of ILWU’s rank and file must prevail! Don’t work on Nov.14. It’s not only your right. It’s your obligation as an ILWU longshore worker. Don’t let the Charleston 5 down when it counts most – on their trial date!
DEFEND THE CHARLESTON 5! DEFEND LABOR’S RIGHTS! AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!
Jack Heyman #8780
Candlelit Vigil
Jack you are right we need to pull together and start showing the world that WE the ILWU will NOT tolerate RACISM OR UNION BUSTING any where in the world.
Jack we heard tonight that they will hold a candle light vigil in Charleston on the night before the trial. We might try to put one together here also I’ll let you know next week. It would be great if the whole coast did this.
PLEASE TAKE NOV.14th OFF!
In Solidarity
Jerry, 60943
Tacoma
ITF calls for appropriate action
The following circular is currently being distributed amongst ITF affiliates. It will be translated into Spanish, French, German, Swedish and most probably in Japanese and perhaps Russian. Annexes have not been added to this message. Kees Marges.
To all ITF affiliates representing port workers
ITF Circular No: 203/D.23/2201
Our Ref: KM/dn/01-203_D.23
19 October 2001
Dear Friends,
Further support for the “Charleston 5”
On 5 April 2001 and 14 May 2001 we sent you by circular (numbers 58/D.7/2001 and respectively 84/D.12/S.28/2001) details on developments in Charleston (South Carolina, USA), where five of your colleagues were arrested as a result of their attempts to defend their workers’ and trade union rights. Attached as Annex 1 is a summary of the information contained in these two circulars.
We would now like to provide you with an update on this clear case of union busting. This week ILA President John Bowers contacted us to inform us on recent developments and sent us a copy of a media release issued by the AFL-CIO on 15 October 2001, from which I quote the following:
“Five union dockworkers, known as the Charleston 5, have been released from more than a year and a half of house arrest. Last week, South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon removed himself from the case against the Charleston 5 after attorneys for the dockworkers demanded that he be disqualified for gross misconduct. The case was transferred to a local prosecutor, Walter M. Bailey, Jn, Solicitor of the First Judicial Circuit, near Charleston. The removal of Condon from the case cleared the way for lifting the curfew. Today, with Bailey’s consent, Judge Vic Rawl signed the order releasing the men.”
The AFL-CIO statement also affirms that the trial against the Charleston Five is still scheduled for the week of 12 November.
Our policy against union busting as adopted at the ITF Dockers’ Section’s Miami Conference in 1997 is applicable in full. In accordance with our policy we will contact the local stevedore WSL as well as ship owners and shipping lines whose vessels sail to and from Charleston. We will inform them that we will be asking our affiliates worldwide to express their opinion and feelings about what has happened in Charleston and about the trial against the five US longshoremen.
This means that we will let you know the exact date of the start of the trial as soon as we have been informed. This date will then be the focus of any activities you have planned. Based on the policy which was unanimously adopted in Miami in June 1997, you will be asked to take whatever action you consider to be appropriate, within your national legislation and tradition, to show your support and solidarity for your fellow workers in Charleston, who may be punished and even jailed for defending their workers and trade union rights. Please be advised that in some countries unions have already announced stoppages or delays in loading and unloading ships that are associated with the Charleston dispute, for example those sailing under the USA flag, or those owned by a ship owner or company whose ships frequently call at Charleston. It is up to each of you to determine your choice of action.
We would appreciate it if you could let us know as soon as possible what actions or activities you are planning and/or what you have already done. We will forward this information to the ILA’s Head Office and to the ILA Locals in Charleston.
Thanking you in advance for your support and solidarity.
Yours fraternally
Kees Marges
Dockers’ Section Secretary
Cc: John Bowers (ILA +1212 425 1200)
Ken Riley (ILA Local 1422 +1 843 723 5643)
