Democracy Now speaks with Clarence Thomas of the International Longshoreman and Warehouse Union Local 10, which shut down the ports of Oakland and San Francisco on April 4 in solidarity with workers in Wisconsin.
Read MoreBy Clarence Thomas
First Published in Workers World, May 5, 2008 9:19 PM
The writer is a Local 10, ILWU Executive Board member; Co-chair, Port Workers’
May Day Organizing Committee; and National Co-chair, Million Worker March Movement.
The International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU), known for its militant and democratic traditions as well as its economic and social justice activism, has written a new chapter in its glorious labor history by shutting down all 29 ports on the West Coast for eight hours on May Day.
This historic and courageous action on the part of the ILWU came about as the result of a “No Peace No Work Holiday” resolution adopted by the Longshore Division Caucus, its highest ruling body, in February. The caucus passed this resolution by an overwhelming majority of the 100 longshore delegates representing all locals on the West Coast.
Read MoreWhy did ILWU decide to organize this work stoppage today? | EB
CT | Fighting police murders and white supremacy is a class question. Let’s not forget that the vast majority of black people, and the vast majority of victims of police repression, are working class.
Read MoreThe East Oakland Stadium Alliance is a coalition of Oakland community leaders, businesses, and labor unions deeply concerned about the A's plans to abandon the East Oakland community in favor of building a waterfront stadium at Howard Terminal.
Read MoreClarence Thomas, 74, spent the majority of his life working as longshoreman, loading and unloading ships docked at the Port of San Francisco. He comes from a long line of longshore workers who were members of Local IWLU local 10, an influential union based in San Francisco. Retired since 2015, Thomas recently edited and published his first book, “Mobilizing in our own name: Million Worker March,” which documents decades of ILWU-backed protests, written by the activists and workers behind the actions.
Read MoreI’ve finally had a chance to really look over and to read into your anthology, “Mobilizing in Our Own Name.” It is a valuable collection of articles and essays that document many of the important events and struggles made over time in the search for social justice by Local 10 ILWU people and others.
Read MoreAs part of Laborfest.net, held at ILWU Local 10, July 15, 2021.
Read MoreClarence Thomas, retired union member of ILWU Local 10 discusses his involvement in the struggle to save The Port of Oakland Howard Terminal.
Read MoreAngela’s dream comes true: inducted into ILWU Local 10 on Juneteenth 2021
Clarence Thomas, an African American, third generation Oakland dockworker, and author of recently published Mobilizing in OUR OWN NAME: Million Worker March
Read More“Million Worker March” Book Review by: Cheryl La Bash
Although I began to write a review of this remarkable anthology as a literary and historical assessment, it is much more than that to me. It is personal.
Clarence Thomas—the “real” Clarence Thomas, labor leader and author—tells an amusing story of his conflicted reaction when he heard some Detroiter appropriated the Million Worker March (MWM) T-shirt design and made T-shirts!
https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/
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