Blockade Port of Oakland During Nov 2 General Strike

Categories: Front Page, General Strike - 11/2/11, News

resolution passed unanimously by the Occupy Oakland strike assembly on Friday October 29

On Wednesday, November 2nd as part of the Oakland General Strike, we will march on the Port of Oakland and shut it down. We will converge at 5pm at 14th and Broadway and march to the port to shut it down before the 7pm night shift.

We are doing this in order to blockade the flow of capital on the day of the General Strike, as well as to show our commitment to solidarity with Longshore workers in their struggle against EGT in Longview, Washington. EGT is an international grain exporter which is attempting to rupture longshore jurisdiction. The driving force behind EGT is Bunge LTD, a leading agribusiness and food company which reported 2.4 billion dollars in profit in 2010; this company has strong ties to Wall Street. This is but one example of Wall Street’s corporate attack on workers.

The Oakland General Strike will demonstrate the wide reaching implications of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The entire world is fed up with the huge disparity of wealth caused by the present system. Now is the time that the people are doing something about it.The Oakland General Strike is a warning shot to the 1% – their wealth only exists because the 99% creates it for them.

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21 Responses to “Blockade Port of Oakland During Nov 2 General Strike”

  1. Poindexter

    Glass-Steagall was repealed in 1999. The Volcker rule seeks to implement a lot of the limits that Glass-Steagall did in the 30’s. This is a bad thing? Bank of America vehemently opposes the re-introduction of Glass-Steagall.

  2. Poindexter

    Thuggery is not the sole realm of the police. If Occupy Oakland attracts the fringe that does cause trouble, they are ultimately responsible for those individuals as much as OPD is responsible for officers who are abusive. There needs to be marshals within Occupy who actively suppress these people and activities. It is of the movements’ benefit to garner the support of police. Not to kow-tow to their wishes, but to engender actual camaraderie between them and us, so that there is no longer a “them and us”.

    I’m talking about small businesses and their workers. All business != bad business. “Shut it down” should not be a catchall. Shut down BofA. Shut down AIG. Not the sandwich shop where I and others grab lunch. Target beneficiaries of TARP. I’m not sure where Bunge fits into this except as a huge agribusiness conglomerate, but sure target them because they’re big business. *shrug*

    Support of labor unions would be most welcomed! They’ve done these actions and are well versed in the pitfalls and advantages.

  3. catarlin

    The lawmakers have not been listening while we have remained silent. It is time to make our voices heard and to get their attention.

  4. petefromsf

    Jerry Brown’s real name is Godot. If you wait for him to help this movement you will be sorely disappointed. Any illusion in his ilk leads us in the wrong direction.

  5. petefromsf

    We have seen thuggery in Oakland, and it all came from the cops. Those elements who hang around left movements and cause provocations have been warned not to, and that is to Occupy’s credit. Don’t make assumptions about the tactics of Occupy based on rumors, as that is dishonest. Your logic of how strikes hurt more workers than businesses is what we have seen too often from the bosses who use uninformed and inexperienced wimps to tout their cause. If we followed that no labor cause would ever succeed. The issue is whether the situation allows this to create an advance, and that advance can come in consciousness and momentum. It’s time for Occupy to take a pro-labor direction, and this could help that.

  6. petefromsf

    After all the heroic solidarity actions we have seen from the ILWU, it is not for anyone to pass judgment on them with words like “shame”. They are the best our labor movement has, and have done far more than Occupy to advance the cause of humanity. Whatever reasons they have for doing what they do or don’t do might not be so obvious to outside eyes, so be thankful for what they do for us and wait until the situation unfolds.

  7. petefromsf

    Judi, what scares the hell out of the bosses is not legislation, but a connection between an anti-capitalist movement and a strategic union that is in struggle right now. That is taking place, and those of us who yearn for a direction for the Occupy movement should be overjoyed.

  8. petefromsf

    Let the ILWU speak for itself. You obviously have no idea about how these actions take place. Old scribe, strikes are not always “official”.

  9. tmcannon

    Among other things, Occupy exists to constantly signal the rest of us to get rid of Glass-Stiegel, push for progressive legislation, oust right-wing politicians, etc. They’ve put an end to silence and apathy. Let’s let them do their job and everyone else do theirs.

  10. Poindexter

    Exactly. A one day general strike hurts small business owners, who CAN’T afford to have one day of no business. A one day strikes hurts low-wage workers who will get fired at the drop of a hat if they don’t show up. Large corps can weather a one day general strike. This symbolic move is going to exert negative pressure on the very people you are trying to reach and help. Idealism is all well and good, but it must be tempered with consequences of reality.

    Also, I’ve heard (unsubstantiated) rumors of there being “pressure” put on some local area business to shut down on Nov. 2 or face some undisclosed consequences. I hope that Occupy Oakland isn’t engaging or tacitly approving of any thuggery to enforcement the General Strike. Bad move.

  11. wiseoldsnail

    no general assembly tonight or last night, methinks. readying for strike. still recovering from the crazy raid.

  12. stower2422

    Solidarity from Occupy Wall Street. Give ’em hell.

  13. iaminoak

    I believe there is the possibility of future strikes when all unions will have the time to prepare as is best for them to pariticpate fully!! peace.

  14. iaminoak

    old scribe, as i understand, ILWU is not officially striking – not enuf time for this, but members are in support of teh strike. Perhaps someone can speak to graet detail.

  15. Judi Berzon

    I don’t understand a General Strike at this point. The Occupy movement needs to pressure lawmakers to reenact some of the legislation, like Glass-Stiegel, that actually regulatedat least some of the worst transgressions of the 1%! What is a General Strike going to do? The corporations are not going to be afraid of a one-day action, but they would HATE actual legislation that will strip them of some of their power.
    Judi

  16. transparency

    Have a caravan heading up from Occupy Los Angeles for the general strike. See you boys and girls on tuesday. Let’s show the world what California is all about!

    It’s time for you Gov. J. Brown to lift your silence!

  17. uhuh

    They have shut the port for Mumia, Palestine, and against the Iraq war. Those were beautiful actions, but to sit this out due to bureaucratic inertia or legal technicalities during the first time in half a century when the people of Oakland are conducting a wildcat General Strike without the cover of collective bargaining agreements or the NLRB would be pathetic and a betrayal to the ILWU’s dignity. If the ILWU does not participate, shame on them. Period.

  18. old scribe

    The longshore union, ILWU, has a long and proud radical history. They have often called strikes in solidarity with people’s struggles. Your description of shutting down the port doesn’t mention them. Are you talking to them? Are they part of this?