seattle indymedia center

Over 25,000 lILWU members held an 8 hour strike to protest the war in Iraq. The strike stretched down the west coast, from Seattle to San Diego, effecting 29 ports. The ILWU has a history of political activism, it was one of the initial unions to oppose the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. However, the May Day strike was the first time in decades that an American union organized a strike in response to U.S. participation in a war. The union took a stand against both Democrats and Republicans, holding both parties equally responsible for funding the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The strike defied the ruling of an independent arbitrator, who decided last week that the union had to report to work on May Day. ILWU International President, Bob McEllrath released a statement saying that "Longshore workers are standing down on the job and standing up for America. We're supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it's time to end the war in Iraq."

In Seattle, over a thousand people showed their solidarity with the union by marching alongside them. The event drew activists from a variety of organizations, including students, anti-war activists, immigrant rights activists, and labor activists. Some of the march slogans included:

• "No peace, No Work"
• "People not Profit"
• "No to war. Yes to peace."
• "An injury to one is an injury to all"
• "Long live international solidarity"

During the post-march rally, speakers spoke about the toll of the war. One speaker commented that it was a day of "Blood, roses, and justice". Another commented that "We are all citizens of the same planet....We cannot ignore the injustices in Afghanistan and Iraq."

A recurring theme in many of the speeches was how Bush's war economy has hurt working people. Health care, education, and roads have all deteriorated as domestic expenditures have been diverted to the war. In commenting about the increasing costs for food and gas, one speaker said "Inflation is like assassination to the poor."

Another theme in the speeches was that only labor has the power to change society. Lynne Dodson, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Local 1789 (Seattle Community Colleges) told the crowd that "we are workers creating a world we want."

Organizers made an effort to build bridges with other movements. One ILWU speaker said that the anti-war movement is a rank and file movement. Another told the marchers that they all were part of a proud and beautiful family that should look out for each other. Speakers from other organizations praised ILWU's courage in standing up against the war. A student organizer from Seattle Central Community College told activists, "We need a movement willing to take action against the war. The longshoremen have taken the first step."

 

Photography Gallery

Chanan Suarezdiaz, President of the Seattle IVAW, also spoke.

Sandra Aguila-Salinas of El Comite spoke before the march

Closed sign at the Left Bank Bookstore