I would like to take this opportunity to extend my enthusiastic and whole
hearted support for the ILWU Longshore Division's courageous and inspired
decision to shut down all of the ports along the U.S. West Coast on May Day as a
compelling demonstration of your opposition to the ongoing wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Your planned action stands squarely in the very
best traditions of the international labor movement dating back to
the pioneering struggles of the IWW and labor/anti-war icons like Rosa
Luxemburg, Joe Hill and Eugene Debbs. Furthermore by your action you
are continuing the great legacy of your union more recently exemplified by the
work stoppages you engaged in to support the Liverpool dockworkers and
Mumia Abu-Jamal. Workers the world over owe you a great debt for the
leadership you have repeatedly shown and are continuing to show.