In February, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Longshore Caucus adopted a resolution to stop work for 8 hours on the day shift of May 1st in protest of the war in Iraq, calling for the immediate and safe return of U.S. forces and demanding that war appropriations be redirected to domestic infrastructure and human needs.

Today Cynthia sent a letter to leaders of the ILWU International as well as to the Presidents of the locals representing dockworkers in the largest West Coast ports applauding their action. In her letter she stated:

Your powerful Longshore Caucus resolution, "For Workers' Action to Stop the War", and your decision to stop work on the West Coast docks May 1st, inspires all of us who have taken up the struggle to end the disastrous war and occupation of Iraq, foisted on us by the Republican administration, and continually funded without substantial objection by both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress. Sadly, the Bush-Pelosi war policy is a formula for endless global conflict, deterioration of the rule of law among nations, and growing impoverishment, indebtedness and evisceration of workers' rights and civil liberties here at home.

On March 13th, the Journal of Commerce Online reported:

The president of the Pacific Maritime Association on Thursday said West Coast waterfront employers intend to turn down a request by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to call an eight-hour stop-work meeting on the first work shift May 1 to protest the Iraq war.

"Contractually, they've gone down the right avenue, but we are not going to agree to it," said James McKenna, PMA president. "PMA will respond to the union shortly."

The ILWU locals are permitted to call one stop-work meeting each month to discuss union business. However, the stop-work meetings must be conducted during the second work shift, when cargo activities at most ports are lightest. If the ILWU wishes to change the stop-work meeting time, the union must request permission. The ILWU has submitted its request in plenty of time to comply with the waterfront contract, McKenna said. Nevertheless, employers do not want all West Coast ports to be shut down for eight hours during the busy day shift on May 1, he said.

In her letter, she continued:

I want you and your members to know that at least one 2008 Presidential candidate is proud to stand up publicly in full and unqualified support of y our resolution to celebrate International Workers Day by protesting the war and occupation where it counts: at the point of production. My campaign, the Power to the People Campaign, will stand with you on May 1st, all along the West Coast, and anyplace where working people take up your call to resist the war. We'll be with you on the picket line.

In campaign speeches over the last several months, Cynthia has often invoked the words of Mario Savio, of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, that sometimes it "becomes necessary to put one's body against the levers and gears of the machine" to bring it to a stop. Cynthia urges others to send similar letters of solidarity to the leadership of the ILWU as they stand up against the Pacific Maritime Association and the Bush-Pelosi War machine, and to explore how in their communities they too take this sort of bold and direct action to stop the war machine.

Those wishing to send their own letters of solidarity are urged to do so, addressed to:

Bob McEllrath, ILWU International President
Fax: (415) 775-1302
Email: robert.mcellrath@ilwu.org

Melvin Mackay, ILWU Local 10 (Bay Area) President
Fax: (415) 441-0610
Email: melmackay@aol.com

Mike Mitre, ILWU Local 13 (L.A./Long Beach) President
Fax: (310) 830-5587
Email: worldports@earthlink.net

Jeff Smith, ILWU Local 8 (Portland) President
Fax: (503) 224-9311
Email: ilwu8@comcast.net

Conrad Spell, ILWU Local 23 (Tacoma) President
Fax: (253) 383-5612
Email: local23@callatg.com

Herald Ugles, ILWU Local 19 (Seattle) President
Fax: (206) 623-8136
Email: ilwulocal19@qwest.net

Please cc copies to Jack Heyman and Clarence Thomas of Local 10's May 1st Committee.