Reply #109: Another reason to praise the ILWU and why the uberclass hates them

[Generic Other]

The ILWU is seen by many as the standard by which many unions should operate: pay is high, and benefits and retirement are exceptional compared to the rest of the US workforce. They have a decent democratic process and are on the low end of hierarchical labor models.

At the ILWU's 33rd International Convention, the union that refused to load ships to Japan in solidarity with the people of China, whom Japan just attacked prior to WWII, the union who refused to load military ships heading for Vietnam during our invasion of that country, the union who refused to load ships heading for aparthied South Africa, the union who shut down the ports for a day in solidarity with Mumia Abu Jamal, the union who threatened to shut down the ports in solidarity with the prisoners in Seattle during the WTO protests, passed no less than four resolutions condemning the Bush Administration and calling for the immediate end of the war Iraq.

http://www.olywip.org/site/page/article/2006/07/06.html