The rally held at 11am at the Port of Oakland to support the ILWU´s contract demands and support the abused Port Truckers was attended by a throng of over a thousand cheering and enthusiastic labor activists. Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa delivered an inspiring speech to the assembly announcing that any strike by the ILWU workers would be embraced and supported by the Teamsters as though it were its own strike, and received a thunderous ovation for his eloquent effort.
Also speaking at the rally were Regional Vice President Chuck Mack and IBT Port Director George Chasman whose speeches were also very enthusiastically applauded by both the ILWU and the Teamsters in attendance.
It was a great showing of solidarity, with Art Pulaski the California Labor Federation President and many international Unions speaking out in support along with the SF Bay Area Labor community but most impressive were the port Union reps from foreign port facilities. Foreign Longshore representatives speaking at the rally included delegates from Spain, Colombia, the Panama Canal as well as from several Eurepean countries. The ILA also came from the East Coast to speak out and offer its support.
California´s Lt. Governor Bustamante spoke in support of Teamster and ILWU workers and led the rally in the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag to demonstrate his/our contempt for the recent Judicial decision banning its use in schools.
The general President of the ILWU spoke at length about their difficult negotiations and thanked our GP Jim Hoffa for participating in that morning´s negotiating session, indicating that the move caught the employer group, the Pacific Maritime Association completely off guard and that Hoffa was extremely effective; telling the PMA representatives directly to their face that the Teamsters would support any job action by the ILWU.
It was a great rally and it was good to see and extierence first hand the solidarity of those in attendance. Many of the Port Truckers who are being so badly abused by their Port broker/employers came to the rally to demonstrate their willingness to Unionize and support each other as well as the ILWU.
My personal congratulations to the Teamsters and ILWU rally organizers. They did a great job. The rally was a tremendous demonstration of solidarity and Labor power. Members and Union leaders coming together to help each other for our common good. The PMA as well as the employer alliance that has formed to try and beat back the waterfront Unions would do well to take heed and not test the will of the Unions. There is no doubt in my mind that if the gauntlet is thrown down and a strike ensues, that the SF Bay Area port facilities would get shut down tight.

Thanks for posting that alex. It is the kind of post that makes you feel good all over and PROUD to be a Teamster.

And the Teamsters should well be proud. The media reports on the rally all emphasized Hoffa´s strong remarks. Todays reports indicate that the talks are now turning positive with no more talk of a lockout.
alex y.