Below are two letters which I found on westcoastportshutdown.org. They are dated January 19, 2012, and I have not at this time been able to independently verify them.
If they are legitimate, and if the scenario they discuss is real, than this has the potential to be an extremely serious situation, escalating tensions between labor and the federal government to a level not seen in decades.
The letters and links are reproduced below as I found them.
(On Jan. 22, I found confirming articles with some additional information: Obama Deploys Military in Labor Dispute, Statement of S.F. Labor Council dated January 10; Military Resistance 10A12 dated Jan. 13; Military Intervention vs. Maritime Union Power dated Jan. 21.)
_______________________
UE Local 150 calls on Obama to order military to stand down
January 19, 2012
President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500Dear President Obama:
With over 4,500 members of the NC Public Service Workers Union- UE local 150 aware of the sad and disturbing news about the planned use of U.S. military to intervene on the side of management in a crucial labor dispute in the state of Washington, our entire Executive Board voted to urge you not to use our government’s military to intervene in this dispute. We unanimously condemn such intervention.
In December 2008, workers across the U.S. and world had hope. When you stood with workers against unfair treatment and union busting during the sit-in (occupation) of the Republic Windows and Doors manufacturing plant in Chicago. We urge you to stand up again with the longshore workers like Dr. King stood with the City of Memphis sanitation workers on April 4th, 1968.
Over the past few months, we have read how the International Longshoremen Workers Union is targeted by “Big Business”at the Port of Longview, Washington. A powerful multinational company, EGT, is attempting to operate as the West Coast’s only non-union facility, despite promising otherwise after receiving millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to build its grain exporting terminal.
It is reported that Coast Guard ships and helicopters will be used to escort this ship after it fills up with grains. As working people in the midst of the current economic crisis of budget cuts in public service programs, schools and public sector jobs, we are angry that our government is using our tax dollars and our military to assist such union busting tactics that continues to lower working people’s standard of living !
Mr. President, we voted for “hope” and “change”. As Commander in Chief, we call upon you to order the Coast Guard and all government military forces to not interfere on the side of management in this labor dispute.
Workers know that hope, which we believe in and that Dr. King believed in, is based on our action as well as your action in ordering the military to stand down. Honor Dr. King with action…Stand down.
Sincerely,
Angaza Laughinghouse
President, N.C. Public Service Workers Union-UE Local 150
cc: Pres. Bruce Kipple, National United Electrical Radio & Machinists Workers of America Pres. Deb Gornall, U.E. Regional Pres. James Andrews, NC AFL -CIO Brad Miller, U.S. Congress Pres. Rich Trumka, AFL -CIO US Senator Kay Hagan_____________
SCFL calls on Obama to leave Coast Guard out of Longview
Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/19/2012 – 13:17
January 19, 2012
President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500Dear President Obama:
With over 200 present at our monthly meeting on Monday, January 16, delegates to the South Central Federation of Labor heard a very disturbing report about the planned use of U.S. military to intervene on the side of management in a crucial labor dispute in Washington State, and voted unanimously to condemn such intervention.
The International Longshoremen Workers Union is engaged in a crucial struggle at the Port of Longview, Washington, where a multinational company, EGT, is attempting to operate as the West Coast’s only non-ILWU facility, despite promising otherwise when it received millions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to build its grain exporting terminal. Now, as the first ship makes its way to the port to fill up with grain bound for Asia, it is reported that Coast Guard ships and helicopters will be used to escort this ship. Use of our tax dollars and our military to assist such union busting is horrifying.
Mr. President, as Commander in Chief, we call upon you to order the Coast Guard to stand down, to not interfere on the side of management in this labor dispute.
Sincerely,
James A. Cavanaugh
President
cc: Rich Trumka, Sen. Kohl, Sen. Johnson, Rep. Baldwin, ILWU