------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the May 31, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- GET ON THE BUS FOR THE CHARLESTON 5 By Dianne Mathiowetz Member UAW Local 10 Atlanta Teamsters and UNITE members are getting on the bus. City, county and state employees, and construction workers are getting on the bus. Autoworkers and healthcare providers are getting on the bus. Anti-globalization activists, members of Millions for Mumia and students campaigning for an end to sweatshops are getting on the bus. In Atlanta, the seats are rapidly filling as union members, their families, and a broad cross-section of community groups commit to participating in a national march for workers' rights in Columbia, S.C., on June 9. A major focus of the demonstration is the case of the Charleston 5. In January 2000, just a few days after a historic march of some 50,000 people demanded the removal of the Confederate flag from atop the State Capitol, a predominantly African American union was viciously attacked in the port of Charleston. Local 1422 of the International Longshore Association is known in South Carolina for its progressive politics and ties to the Black community. It had also played a big role in the anti-Confederate flag movement. More than 600 cops, clad in riot gear and equipped with helicopters, armored vehicles, patrol boats, horses, tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and clubs assaulted about 130 longshore workers. The workers had gathered to picket and protest the use of scab labor to unload cargo from a Nordana ship. For more than 23 years, Nordana had contracted with the ILA. When the shipping company abruptly notified the union that it was terminating its contract, the Charleston longshore workers set up informational picket lines on the dock. Although it was the cops who launched the attack, nine longshore workers were arrested that night. When a Charleston court dropped the original misdemeanor charges, State Attorney General Charlie Conden intervened and brought felony riot charges against five of the longshore workers. If convicted, the workers each face a sentence of five years in prison. In addition, the company that provided the scab laborers has filed a multi-million-dollar civil suit against 27 union leaders and members. The Charleston 5 are literally under house arrest until their cases come to court. They are confined to their homes from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. unless at work or attending a union meeting. They have to get special permission in order to leave the state. These unprecedented measures coincide with state legislative attacks on unions. For example, a bill before the South Carolina General Assembly forbids anyone holding union membership to sit on state boards and agencies. Another prevents any South Carolina municipality from enacting "living wage" statutes to raise wages above the state's minimum wage law. ILA 1422 President Ken Riley has been traveling throughout the country educating unionists and community activists about the repression and racism being employed by the South Carolina ruling class against all workers fighting for a decent job. When workers in Detroit, New York City, Atlanta and port cities throughout Europe have heard about the struggle of the Charleston 5 and the upcoming national demonstration, they have immediately pledged to add their support. Besides 15 buses chartered from Atlanta, transportation is being organized from dozens of East Coast cities. Longshore workers from the West Coast, England and Spain will also travel to Columbia to express their solidarity with the struggle. The national and state AFL-CIOs have actively promoted the case of the Charleston 5. For more information on how you can get on the bus contact: Campaign for Workers' Rights in South Carolina, (888) 716- 7362. South Carolina AFL-CIO, (803) 798-8300. International Action Center/Labor-Community Outreach Committee, 39 West 14 Street, Room 206, N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone (212) 633-6646; fax (212) 633-2889; e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]; web www.iacenter.org/labor.htm. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
