American dockers refuse to unload goods from Honduran capitalists

[cyu]

Excerpts from http://links.org.au/node/1286

"During these days of struggle [since the June 28, 2009, coup], the level of consciousness has greatly risen, much more than would in 100 days of classes about class struggle. There has been a parting of waters. This is a struggle between classes: on one side the exploited people, and on the other the capitalists, the large capitalists that dominate this country. Even the Liberal Party supporters that are part of the resistance understand it as such. It is very easy to explain this as a struggle of the poor against the rich, to put them all into the same group.

"Depending on the situation we will study what we do. The future is ours, nothing will ever be the same in Honduras

"We just received good news from the US. They have informed us that the dockers have decided to boycott the unloading of products from the maquiladoras [sweat shops] here. This is a good blow to the business owners. If it wasn’t for the business owners and the right wing in Latin America, there would be no coup in Honduras."

[Dimentio]

Wow, this was encouraging news. Did they do it because of the coup?

[Stranger Than Paradise]

That is really interesting news, militancy it seems, is growing in our US class brothers and sisters.

[Comrade B]

Doesn't surprise me, I know an official in the dockers union, good guy, very far left.

[Andropov]

Brilliant news.
The Dockers as ever are a credit to the American Union movement.

[Mindtoaster]

Was this the same dockers union that went on strike in opposition to the troop surge in Iraq a year or two ago?

Really militiant folks.

Does anyone have more info on this? I really would love to hear more

[Axle]

Much respect.

Other American unions need to step up like this. More militancy and world-wide class conciousness; less complacency and "Buy American" nationalism.

[manic expression]

Incredible stuff, a great example for all workers and revolutionaries.

[Rjevan]

Even in danger of repeating what others said above: Absolutely great news! Very impressing example of solidarity with opressed workers. Respect to the dockers, they rock!

[What Would Durruti Do?]

So who thinks things are going to boil over into full blown revolution in Honduras?

[RebelDog]

Solidarity action brings out the best in human beings. It at least shows the bastards we can act as a class.

[RedSonRising]

This is very significant...we have seen elements of the working class consciously conflicting with their natural oppressors, the bourgeoisie, historically, such as with the Republic occupations etc, and this often occurs when their individual interests were immediately at stake. But this is a demonstration of international class solidarity; these workers are setting the example that other producing workers are the same as them, and it is not a matter of Honduran and US citizens, but of workers and bourgeoisie. The whole working class isn't inherently ignorant, do not misunderstand me, but it is obvious that many are not largely aware of the nature of class conflict as these workers appear to be. This act shows that class conflict has no borders, and that solidarity through class runs deeper than any other societal relation. Not only that, but it identifies the Coup as relevant to class conflict, which may not appear to be totally clear.

Great news. Clear signs of class consciousness :)

[L.J.Solidarity]

So who thinks things are going to boil over into full blown revolution in Honduras?

I don't think so, as at the moment it looks like the coup regime and Zelaya would actually get to some sort of agreement, so the "formal" political situation in Honduras is going to return to normal after the elections in November (two-party cleptocracy) but the movement of workers and the rural poor is likely to be greatly strengthened by the fact that the coup leaders at least nominally had to take a defeat (while actually having won), and I guess whichever oligarch becomes the next president will have to deal with a vocal opposition to the Honduran system - something that didn't really exist there since the early 80s.

[Mindtoaster]

Could someone confirm this claim?

The article doesn't appear to even name or state the location of the dockers union

[Anaximander]

I haven't heard anything about this from my local Trots, and they are always on about Honduras. I'd like to find out more also. This seems to be the only article that mentions it.

If it indeed is the case, then I am quite beside myself. A small amount of class consciousness goes a long way..

edit: Checked my e-mail a little later and it turns out I received this article from a local Trotskyist group. But, once again, the only article that mentions it is this one.

[Red Rebel]

This is great news from the longshoremen. Historically dockworkers throughout the world have been radical, it is great that the ones in the USA are living up to that great example.

[Mather]

All power to the dockers, they are an inspiration to all.

[cyu]

Excerpt from http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/democra-phobia-fear-citizen-power-honduras

The International Transport Workers Federation has called upon its four-and-a-half million members in 656 labor unions worldwide (it includes Longshoremen, Teamsters and Seafarers among other union sectors in the US and throughout the world) to refuse to load or unload products from the 650 merchant ships that are registered under the Honduran flag for as long as the coup regime is in place.

Excerpts from http://www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/3512

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today called for all its union members to oppose the coup in Honduras by focusing protests on the Honduran merchant fleet.

The global union organisation, which represents 656 unions worldwide with four and a half million members, has made the call as its latest move to defend democracy in the coup-stricken Central American nation, and in support of the Organization of American States’ (OAS) condemnation of the military takeover. The action call is likely to affect the loading and unloading of the 650 ships flying the Honduran flag, which the ITF considers a flag of convenience

ITF Inter-Americas Regional Secretary Antonio Rodriguez Fritz commented: “The situation in Honduras is bad and getting worse, with violent military attacks on demonstrations, two trade unionists killed and others in hiding from arrest. We’re also fearful of the future, based on the experience of the 1970s and 80s, when similar economic and military groupings used death squads to repress dissent and murder trade unionists.”