(Click on the pictures to see a bigger version)
A Special thanks to Erv and the Portland Jobs for Justice web site for this great story and pictures
Tacoma (6/10/00) -- Locked-out Kaiser steelworkers and their supporters surprised Kaiser Aluminum this weekend by successfully stopping Kaiser's alumina ore ship from unloading.
Steelworkers and supporters set up picket lines early Saturday morning at the docks. Citing safety issues, the longshoreman refused to cross the picket lines, effectively shutting down much of the Port of Tacoma. The longshoreman's refusal was later supported in two arbitration decisions between the company and ILWU. Later the Steelworker's union agreed to establish their picket line in a way that prevented the ore ship from being unloaded but allowed the rest of the Port to operate normally.
As of Monday morning, Kaiser steelworkers continue their picketing and the ship remains unloaded. Kaiser Steelworkers plan to maintain an around-the-clock picket line. Sources estimate that more than $30,000 are lost each day the ship remains unloaded.
Caught By Surprise
Seventy-five picketers from Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Tacoma filtered into the Port of Tacoma early Saturday morning. The weather did little to dampen the spirit of solidarity and militancy. The surprise picket line was established at the dock where a ship prepared to unload alumina ore bound for the Kaiser Aluminum plant. It took about twenty minutes for the picketers to assemble and longshoremen workers to cease their efforts on the ship.
Police arrived to block a gate leading to the area of labor activity, so picketers could not pass through freely.
Police declared the union supporters were trespassing on private property. In response, Steelworker officials cited federal law that says they have the right to cross private property to establish a picket line in a labor dispute. Police also declared the picket illegal, citing an injunction against mass picketing. The union disagreed stating that the injunction only applies to picketing at the Kaiser plant, not the docks.
Labor activists gathered on both sides of the gate, sang songs led by Desert Rat and his banjo, shared coffee and food, and held strategic discussions about their mission in Tacoma. During this time, the police continued to demand that picketers disperse and end the trespass on private property. At mid-morning, all agreed that Jon Youngdahl, head of the Steelworker corporate campaign against Kaiser, would be the only arrest. His arrest would allow for a court challenge to the trespass and mass picketing charges.
More police vehicles arrived. All picketers were ordered to leave the area or face arrest. A lone Jon Youngdahl remained to face charges of violating an injunction against mass picketing and trespass on private property. A chant rose up from the picketers to "Free Jon" as he was taken into custody.
Aggressive Police Response
Later, picketers tried to block gates leading to the dock to hinder any further unloading activity at the ore ship. This was met with a chilling police presence reminiscent of the WTO. Fifty police appeared highly militarized--dressed in black and marching in formation, armor on feet, legs and chests and guns drawn. They deliberately acted to stop picketing activity by threatening arrest and surrounding picketers. Police were also aggressive in citing people for minor infractions such as jay-walking.
Picketing Continues
Youngdahl was released from jail later Saturday afternoon. Around-the-clock picketing of six to twelve USWA members continues as of Monday morning; due to the legal issues, ore ship picketing is currently limited to USWA members. The ore ship remains unloaded.