Transport Workers Solidarity Committee

2/24 From the Docks to the Desert - Emergency Caravan to Boron To Support ILWU Local 30 Rio Tinto Strikers

http://www.launionaflcio.org/events/231/

From the Docks to the Desert - Emergency Caravan to Boron

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Join our emergency caravan to Boron to support the borax miners who are being locked out by the international mining company Rio Tinto. We'll be delivering food and showing our solidarity.
Meet at 7:00 in the morning at Dodger Stadium Parking Lot 13 on Stadium Way.
Click here for a map.
Click the image below to download a printable flyer.
2/24 ILWU 30 Rio Tinto Rally-Info from LA
http://www.launionaflcio.org/pdf/100217-Boron-White.pdf

DATE & TIME:
February 24th
7 AM - Assemble
8 AM - Caravan Departs for Boron

PLACE:
Dodger Stadium - Lot 13 on Stadium Way

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Glen Arnodo
213.381.5611 x126

ILWU Local 10 Calls Off 11/12 Yolo County Solidarity Rally

From: Jack Heyman
Date: 2009/11/7
Subject: ILWU Calls OFF Rally

Dear Friends,

The ILWU will NOT be organizing a rally in defense of Aaron Harrison
in Woodland, CA. on Thursday November 12. Brother Harrison decided
against a union rally. Those of you interested in attending the trial
should go to the Yolo County Superior Court, 725 Court St.; Woodland,
CA @ 9AM Nov. 12 in DPT 1. I'll be at the trial.

In solidarity,
Jack Heyman
Education Committee ILWU Local 10 and ILWU Local 10 Executive Board

11/12 Yolo County ILWU Local 10 Rally For Aaron Harrision

DEFEND BROTHERS
RUFFIN & HARRISON
NOW!
STOPRACIALPROFILING!
DROPTHE BOGUS
CHARGES!
The ILWU (Longshore Union) is mobilizing the labor
movement for Aaron Harrison’s trial on Thursday,
November 12. Jason Ruffin was found “not guilty”
Oct. 28. They were busted 2 years ago in the port of
Sacramento while returning to work after lunch. They
did nothing wrong! All unions need to defend them!
ILWU Calls Rally
Thurs, Nov. 12 in Woodland, CA
This was a clear case of “Rambo-acting” SSAterminal security guards calling in police. Under the
guise of “port security” Aaron was dragged from his car, maced, handcuffed, while Jason was locked
in a police car with windows closed and temperatures over 100 degrees. This is not “port security”.
It’s thugs in blue. It could happen to any port worker with or without a TWIC ID card!
The West Sac police have many cases of racial profiling against them, mainly from Mexican
American youth. Luis Gutierrez, a farmworker, was killed by undercover sheriffs’ deputies on April
30. Clearly, Aaron and Jason are victims of racial profiling.
JOIN THE ILWU PROTESTRALLY8 AM ATTHE YOLO COUNTYCOURTHOUSE;

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090502/A_BIZ/905020318/-1/A_NEWS05

Pickets at port to push for pay

By Reed Fujii
Record Staff Writer
May 02, 2009 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - Labor organizers plan a mass rally Monday at the Port of Stockton calling on officials to make good on promises to provide hundreds of "family-wage jobs" for working men and women.

Construction projects and new businesses attracted to the port, rather than providing good-paying jobs, are instead offering work at $10 to $12 an hour with little or no benefits, organizers claim in a news release. The port's growth is concentrated on the former Navy base the port took over in 2000, tripling its size.

"Since they acquired Rough and Ready Island for $1, they have decided to put more emphasis on being a landlord than being a genuine port," said Gene Davenport, secretary-treasurer of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 54 in Stockton.

Private companies leasing former Navy warehouses from the port pay far less than what union dock workers, truck drivers or employees of the port itself receive, Davenport said Friday in calling for the rally on Monday.

And in many cases, companies leasing open land hire out-of-state contractors who bring in low-wage labor to build new facilities, he said.

Charges Dropped Against Two ILWU Local 10 Members

Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Although there was no quorum at the Local 10 Executive Board, President Melvin Mackay informed us that a settlement has been reached in the Ruffin/Harrison case. The two brothers will not have to plead guilty or no contest and will have no record. In exchange they will do two hours of paperwork. Ultimately the decision was theirs. It took us by surprise as we were organizing for a mass rally December 15th at the Woodland Courthouse. That rally has now been cancelled. We'd like to thank all unions and organizations for participating in our previous rallies. We especially want to thank Bill Camp, Executive Secretary of the Sacramento Central Labor Council, and his Mobilization Coordinator Zak Ford and Karen Bernal for helping to organize community groups in the West Sac area. There's no question that this would have been the largest rally so far. We can consider this a limited victory since the charges against them were dismissed. Racial profiling of African Americans and Mexican Americans has been going on for some time in Yolo County. The way to put a stop to it is organizing the kind of rallies we've been doing for the last year. Thanks again for all your support and please pass the word on to others who would were planning to participate at the rally on Monday.

12/15 Yolo County Courthouse For ILWU Local 10 Longshoreworkers

ILWU Rally December 15

Defend Longshore Workers Rights!

Stop Racial Profiling!

Drop The Bogus Charges Now!

“Port security” under the guise of the “war on terror” is being used to attack workers. On December 15, 2008 at the Yolo County Court House two ILWU Local 10 longshore workers, Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison, will go on trial. Their crime?—going to work! Yes, that’s right. These two brothers were beaten and arrested by police when they returned to work after lunch in the port of Sacramento on August 23, 2007. SSA terminal security guards demanded they open the car trunk to be searched. The guards cited new repressive (MARSEC) maritime security regs. When the longshoremen called their union business agent to find out their rights, police assaulted, handcuffed, maced and arrested the two black union members. They were initially charged with "trespassing" (!) and "resisting arrest". The "trespassing" charge was dropped, but the absurd charge of “resisting arrest” of a false charge remains. The port security video shows that they did nothing wrong.

West Sacramento police have a record of racist attacks on African American and Mexican American youth. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is defending minority youth in West Sac against unconstitutional police measures. The defense of our brothers is critical not just for them and the ILWU but for all unions and working people. Port workers face the brunt of this repressive legislation. TWIC cards and MARSEC will be used to fire port workers with past criminal records, to target port truckers many of whom are immigrants and to ban union actions on the docks like picket lines.

Labor Community Rallies On October 6 For Beaten and Arrested ILWU Local 10 Members in Yolo County House Courthouse

A hundred ILWU Local 10 longshoremen, officers and other labor and community supporters were in Woodland at the Yolo County Courthouse on October 6, 2008 to protest the trial of Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison, two members who had been beaten and arrested on the docks of Sacramento. In August of 2007, after returning from lunch they were pulled out of their car by Yolo County police, maced and arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest.
After organizing a support campaign, the district attorney was forced to drop the charge of "trespassing" but they continue to press charges of resisting arrest against the two longshore workers. The absurdity of continuing this trial while the basis for the arrest in the first place has not missed the eye of legal experts and longshoremen alike.
The rally was chaired by ILWU Local 10 Business Agent Trent Willis and ILWU members attended from Locals 34, 17, 6 and the IBU-ILWU. ILWU Local 10 Executive Board member Clarence Thomas led off the rally and called for building support within the labor movement for the case and pointed out that ILWU Local 10 had strong history of solidarity actions including the May Day walkout against the war and repression against working people.

ILWU Local 10 Rally October 6th at Yolo County Courthouse Near Sacramento

Defend Local 10 Members Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison Beaten and
Arrested By Police.
Stop Racial Profiling! Drop The Bogus Charges!

6:00 AM: Buses leave ILWU Local 10 (400 North Point St. by Fisherman's Wharf).

8:00 AM: Rally in Woodland (near Sacramento)

On October 6, 2008 at the Yolo County Courthouse two ILWU Local 10
longshoremen, Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison, will go on trial. These
two brothers were beaten and arrested by police while returning to
work after lunch in the port of Sacramento on August 23, 2007. When
port security guards demanded they open the car trunk to be searched,
they called their union business agent to find out what their rights
are. New repressive (MARSEC) maritime security regulations was cited
in the assault, handcuffing, macing and arrest the two black union
members. They were initially charged with "trespassing" and "resisting
arrest". The "trespassing" charge was dropped. The video shows that
they did nothing wrong.

Sacramento police have a record of racist attacks on African American
and Mexican American youth. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

Stand Up For ILWU 10 Members Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison
Drop The Bogus Charges Now!

On October 6, 2008 in Woodland, California, Yolo County Courthouse two young Local 10 ILWU Black longshoremen, Jason Ruffin and Aaron Harrison, will go on trial. On August 23, 2007, these two unionists were beaten and arrested while calling their union business agent to find out what rights they have on the docks. Although they had already been on the docks prior to lunch the police used the increased repressive (MARSEC) maritime security regulations to assault these union members. They were initially charged with "trespassing" and "resisting arrest" but the "trespassing" charge was dropped. The video shows that they did nothing wrong.

The Sacramento police and Yolo County sheriff's department have a record of racist attacks on African American and Mexican American youth. They recently ordered a court room closed on a murder case to prevent the family and public to attend the hearings. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is defending these youth against unconstitutional police measures. The defense of these unionists is critical not just for them, their families and ILWU but all transport workers and all organized labor and working people. Transportation workers face the brunt of this repressive legislation including the TWIC cards which are now being used to fire workers who have past criminal records and to target port truckers, many of whom are immigrants.

Whereas, the ILWU has been attempting to organize Blue Diamond Almond Workers for 2 years, and

Whereas, almonds are the largest export in the port of Oakland totaling some $1.4 billion dollars, and

Whereas, 70% of California almonds are shipped overseas with Pacific Rim nations receiving much of that cargo, and

Whereas, the owners have been using massive anti-union tactics like firing, intimidating workers, and threatening the loss of benefits, and

Whereas even the Bush-controlled NLRB has found Blue Diamond in violation of labor laws and those violations are arrogantly practiced today without penalty,

Therefore be it resolved that the Blue Diamond Almond workers will only get their just demand for a union of their choice by solidarity actions, and

Therefore Be It Finally Resolved that this international conference of transport workers goes on record calling for concrete acts of solidarity to achieve a union victory.