Tompkins County Against War & Occupation

Their union says the action is to protest the war in Iraq, but port operators and shippers say it’s an attempt to influence their contract. The 8-to-5 action affects 29 facilities from Seattle to San Diego.

By Louis Sahagun
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

12:08 PM PDT, May 1, 2008

Thousands of dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, took the day off work today in what their union called a protest of the war in Iraq, effectively shutting down operations at the busy complexes.

The show of force by the union came two months before the contract expires between the dockworkers, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and the Pacific Maritime Assn., which represents port operators and large shippers, many of them foreign-owned.

“We are supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it’s time to end the war in Iraq,” said union President Bob McEllrath. Go to article on Los Angeles Times web site.