Q: What is the ILWU Listbot (ILWU E-mail News Exchange)?
A: By signing up, you’ll receive news stories of concern to the ILWU and it’s members. Stories are culled from major sources (AP, UPI, CNN, NBC, LA Times, etc.), periodicals (The Nation, Z Magazine, Time, etc.), industry sources (the JOC, etc), as well as the rank-and-file at large. When the ILWU makes the news, you’ll have the story in your e-mail box.
Q: How many stories go out each week?
A: Sometimes ten, sometimes only three. It all depends on what’s in the media or what our members are writing.
Q: Is there an archive of past articles I can view?
A: Yes, it is located at http://www.listbot.com/archive/ILWU
Q: How many members subscribe to the Listbot?
A: 383, as of June 30, 1999. The ILWU Listbot was originally created in Oct/98.
Q: Does it cost anything to belong?
A: No, it is a free service.
Q: If I find an article of interest, how do I send it to everyone on the Listbot?
A: E-mail the article to ilwu@listbot.com
Q: Is the Listbot moderated?
A: Yes, it is moderated. This means that stories, before they can reach everyone’s e-mail, must be approved. This is done for the protection of the Listbot members, to prevent any ‘denial of service’ attack or ‘e-mail bombing’ of the Listbot members by our scumbag employers or their fascistic friends. Remember Bloody Thursday… if the employers will resort to MURDER, there is nothing they won’t resort to.
Q: What if it is not a news article, but just a rant I want to get off my chest… can a send that out to the group?
A: Of course. Remember, however, that what you send has the potential to be read by a much wider audience than just those who subscribe to the Listbot since all the articles are archived. The archived articles are available for anyone to view, including our blood-sucking scumbag employers.
Q: Is the ILWU (either the International or any Local) officially sponsoring this? Are they involved in anyway?
A: No. This is run by rank-and-file members, none of whom have neither sought (nor received) any sanction to run this news service. That’s democracy for ya.
Q: Will my e-mail address be kept confidential? I’m not going to get a bunch of spam am I?
A: Your e-mail will be given to no one. Listbot has a strict policy against spam. The ILWU Listbot Moderators believe spammers should be hunted down and shot, and would therefore never cooperate with them.
Q: Who can I contact if I have more questions?
A: Contact the Listbot Moderators Jon Jeter jjeter@foxinternet.net or Richard Van Schaick Richard@ilwu.com
Fraternal Regards and Solidarity Forever,
Jon Jeter (Local 52) & Richard Van Schaick (Local 63-OCU)
