Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 16:29:44 -0700
From: William Mandel <wmmmandel-AT-earthlink.net>
Subject: MY OWN TWO DEAD LONGSHOREMEN


     This is the first time I am dealing with a labor matter on my
complete list.
     My family is mourning the death of my grandson, Daniel Glick, age
38, San Francisco longshoreman, a month ago. My daughter Phyllis, his
mother, is still mourning the death of Danny's father, Keith Glick, San
Francisco longshoremen, several years ago at age 58. Both had repeatedly
suffered severe disabling injuries on the job. My daughter subsequently
lost her lover, San Francisco longshoreman, same age.
     The deaths of all three were consequences of the culture promoted
by that job, in which one cannot plan one's life because one never knows
what days one will work, and what shift, in an industry in which the
most rapid turnaround of ships is the governing "law."
     That industry has now locked out all longshoremen on the West
Coast, San Diego to Seattle and northward, seeking to smash a union that
insists on employers' adherence to agreed safety procedures and is
resisting employers' desire to shift a major job category out of control
of the union, whose past struggles have won good wages and benefits.
     Public opinion is vital in such struggles. It can be expressed in
calls to talk shows, resolutions by organizations to which one belongs,
letters to editors, and particularly by messages to members of Congress
and the Senate. Even supposed middle-of-the-roaders like Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, who has close ties to the Asia trade, are calling upon the
government to use the Taft-Hartley Act to break the union.
     Public opinion is best expressed by physical presence at
demonstrations in support of the workers. A powerful impact is created
when TV shows large crowds including people who, by dress, manner, and
age, are clearly not themselves the workers affected, but who are
showing support.
     I hope recipients living in the San Francisco Bay Area will attend
the rally tomorrow morning, Saturday, 10 a.m., at Port View Park in the
port of Oakland.
     Take the Port of Oakland exit off 880 South, get off at Maritime
Blvd., make a right onto 7th St., and take it till it dead-ends at the
park. If you don't drive, there will be a volunteer car shuttle service
from the West Oakland BART station from 9 to 10 a.m., and then back
following the rally. If you can help carry people in your car, contact
the organizers at <srsndln-AT-pacbell.net> or phone 1-415-641-8616.
     Sixty-five years ago I walked the picket line in the Little Steel
Strike in Cleveland, Ohio. I'll be at Port View Park tomorrow at 10,
cane and all. Hope to see you, if you are a Bay Area resident.
							William Mandel
   
-- 


=======================================================  
My autobiography, SAYING NO TO POWER (Creative Arts, Berkeley, 1999), 
was written for the general reader. However, if you teach in the social
sciences consider it for student reading. It is a history of how the
American 
people fought to defend and expand its rights in my lifetime, employing 
the form of the life story of one who was involved in most serious 
movements: labor, student, peace with the USSR, civil rights South and
North, civil 
liberties (I seriously damaged the Senate Internal Security Committee, 
the McCarthy Committee, and the House Un-American Activities Committee 
with testimonies that may be heard/seen on my website,
http://www.billmandel.net ), the RADIO OF DISSENT (37 YEARS ON
PACIFICA), 
with very extensive information on its history) and the feminist
movement, 
although I am male. The book  contains some fifty pages on my late wife, 
Tanya, appearing appropriately throughout the book. They may be found in 
the index under Mandel, Tanya. My activities began in 1927. I am 85. The
book 
is available through all normal sources. If you want an autographed
copy, 
send me $23 at 4466 View Pl., Apt. 106, Oakland, CA. 94611
=======================================================
-- 


=======================================================  
My autobiography, SAYING NO TO POWER (Creative Arts, Berkeley, 1999), 
was written for the general reader. However, if you teach in the social
sciences consider it for student reading. It is a history of how the
American 
people fought to defend and expand its rights in my lifetime, employing 
the form of the life story of one who was involved in most serious 
movements: labor, student, peace with the USSR, civil rights South and
North, civil 
liberties (I seriously damaged the Senate Internal Security Committee, 
the McCarthy Committee, and the House Un-American Activities Committee 
with testimonies that may be heard/seen on my website,
http://www.billmandel.net ), the RADIO OF DISSENT (37 YEARS ON
PACIFICA), 
with very extensive information on its history) and the feminist
movement, 
although I am male. The book  contains some fifty pages on my late wife, 
Tanya, appearing appropriately throughout the book. They may be found in 
the index under Mandel, Tanya. My activities began in 1927. I am 85. The
book 
is available through all normal sources. If you want an autographed
copy, 
send me $23 at 4466 View Pl., Apt. 106, Oakland, CA. 94611
=======================================================