Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 15:42:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bob Evans <bevans-AT-netcom.com> (by way of Tom Condit <tomcondit-AT-igc.apc.org>)
Subject: M-NEWS: Victory in Defense of Liverpool Dockers


A militant picket line and the support of ILWU Longshore Workers' Local
10 brought victory in a battle fought in Oakland on behalf of the
Liverpool dockers, who have had their union busted and have had 500
workers fired by the privatized Marcey Docks.

The ship __Neptune Jade__ put into Oakland scheduled to unload 160 cargo
containers Sunday morning (September 28) and then put out for Yokahama. 
Among those 160 containers were 7 that had been put onboard at
Thamesport, another English port also operated by Marcey Docks. 
Militants of the Committee for Victory to the Liverpool Dockers learned
of the arrival of the __Neptune Jade__ and its cargo and put out the
call to individuals and organizations resulting in a militant picket
line at the dock by 6:00 A.M. Sunday morning, before the call to the
ILWU hiring hall for longshoremen to work the cargo.

Members of Local 10 refused to cross the picket line, and when the
Pacific Maritime Association (the blanket employers' organization)
arbitrator arrived, he ruled that the picket line constituted a bona
fide health and safety issue for the longshoremen and they therefore did
not have to take the safety risk of crossing the picket line.

The same scene was repeated Sunday night and again Monday morning.  The
employers went to court on Monday to seek a temporary restraining order,
which was refused, in part at least because they had not given the 24
hours' notice required by local court rules.

The ship left port on Monday night, supposedly for Yokahama, but in fact
anchored in the Bay, simply making room for another ship to come in and
use the dock.  When it left, the ship was brought back in, but the word
got out and the picket line went back up, with Local 10 members again
refusing to cross the line and the arbitrator again ruling that the
picket constituted a health and safety issue under the terms of ILWU's
contract with PMA.  The employers had obtained a restraining order, in a
much watered-down version, on Tuesday, but it is questionable whether
service was valid and, in any event, there was no effort by Oakland
Police to enforce it.

On Wednesday morning, the picket line was much smaller than it had been
in the past, and the arbitrator for the first time ruled that it was not
a health and safety issue, but Local 10 members still refused to cross
the line.

On Wednesday, the ship put out with all 160 containers still aboard.  In
a declaration under penalty of perjury submitted in support of a tighter
restraining order obtained on Wednesday, a representative of the
shipping line said it would not return to a California port.  The ship
is supposedly headed for Japan, although it may turn and head for
another West Coast port (Vancouver is the most likely) rather than take
all of this cargo to Japan.

Anyone with contacts in other Pacific Coast cities with container ports
should contact them to beware of the arrival of the __Neptune Jade__. 
Don't let them unload __any__ cargo from a ship containing scab cargo.

Thanks to the actions of local activists and of the members of ILWU
Local 10, who have an understanding of the deeper meaning of that "I" in
their union's name, international working class solidarity prevailed in
Oakland.  It can and should prevail elsewhere with all ships carrying
cargo loaded at any of the Marcey Docks' facilities.  I'm particularly
calling on those of you receiving this in the Southern California area
where ships may come into container ports to join together and with
others to shut down the next ship coming in carrying scab cargo.

For further information contact the Committee for Victory to the
Liverpool Dockers at (415) 641-4610.

           ------ Bob Evans
                  bevans-AT-netcom.com