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           Shipping Stevedoring Port Services Hydrocarbons Diving  Autumn 2008        |
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US wharfies shut down West Coast ports in anti-war protest02 May 2008By MUA news - MUA supports the couragous and principled stand this May Day by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Workers' Union and reports that the Port Workers Union of Iraq plan to shutdown ports for one hour in solidarity with US dock workers More than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 west coast ports in the USA called for an end to the war in Iraq on May 1 by staying at home. "Longshore workers are standing-down on the job and standing up for America," said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath. "We're supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it's time to end the war in Iraq." "We won't stand by while our country, our troops, and our economy are destroyed by a war that's bankrupting us to the tune of 3-trillion dollars," he said. "It's time to stand up, and we're doing our part today." Meanwhile the General Union of Port Workers in Iraq said it would shutdown the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Alzubair for one hour on May Day in solidarity with the action of ILWU members. The US Labor Against the War group report a broad cross-section of Iraqi union leaders have also sent messages of appreciation on the USLAW website "for the solidarity demonstrated by organised labor, working people and all peace-loving people of the world in support of their efforts to end the foreign occupation of Iraq and the sectarian violence that occupation has spawned." IN a letter from The General Union of Port Workers in Iraq to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in the United States, the union said "The courageous decision you made to carry out a strike on May Day to protest against the war and occupation of Iraq advances our struggle against occupation to bring a better future for us and for the rest of the world as well." "We are certain that a better world will only be created by the workers and what you are doing is an example and proof of what we say. " The union also condemned attacks on union rights in Iraq and the privatisation of oil and gas. A second release demanded endorsed by more than 30 Iraqi unions called an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq and the passage of a labour law. The ILWU media release can be downloaded below or at MUA members can send messages of solidarity by email to For further information on Iraqi union statements US Labor Against the War
Download more info: For further information
Public News: You can view MUA's publicly available news in a variety of ways. Please select one of our public news indexes. |
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