US Police fire on workers and protestors

Oakland police use concussion grenades and wooden bullets against unionists and community picketing American President Lines and Stevedoring Services of America re war shipments

The Port of Oakland was shut down last week after police attacked workers and peace protestors by firing wooden bullets and concussion grenades to disperse a demonstration.

Nine ILWU members were shot and injured, and the union reports that police threw Jack Heyman of the ILWU to the ground, handcuffed and arrested him along with more than 35 other protesters and port workers.

Anti war demonstrators had converged on the Port of Oakland at dawn on April 7 to picket American President Lines and Stevedoring Services of America, companies that receive millions of taxpayer dollars to ship military cargo.

SSA has been subject to union protests since it was awarded a $4.8 million contract to operate the Port of Umm Qasr in Iraq this month.

The ILWU wrote a formal complaint to the Mayor of Oakland Jerry Brown on April 10, registering the leadership's dismay and anger at the police voilence. The letter (below) also calls for a full investigation.

The International Transport Workers' Federation, too, has contacted both American President Line and Stevedoring Service's of America on April 11 deploring the company tactic of using brutal force against workers and protesters.

Download more info:
ilwu letter to Oakland Mayor (pdf file)

For further information

Contact	:	MUA Stevedoring Division
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Fax	:	+61 2 9261 3481
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