|
|
| Winning against globalizationOn the Global Waterfront,by Suzan Erem and Paul Durrenberger, Monthly Review Press, ISBN 1-58367-163-4 “Worker power” historically was won the old fashioned way –– strikes, picket lines, sometimes bloody and violent confrontations. In a global corporate age, how do workers exert power? When corporations can roam the globe for a cheaper price, what resources do workers have, particularly when their own governments support the corporations, not the citizens? In a unique story of old-fashioned street fighting plus adept global positioning, On the Global Waterfront tells the story of Charleston, S.C. dockworkers and their valiant fight to maintain decent jobs in a changing global economy. U.S. dockworkers, organized in two different coastal unions, traditionally have enjoyed decent conditions. Adapting to changing technology, they have become some of the most productive and best paid U.S. workers. In traditionally non-union South Carolina, Charleston’s dockers were a rarity –– well paid African-Americans with a strong union. It almost all unraveled on January 19, 2000. 150 unionists gathered to picket a Danish cargo ship that was attempting to unload non-union. As they began to march toward the docks, they were met by 600 riot-geared police. A savage, but decidedly one-sided battle, raged. It was unfortunate, a black eye on a productive port and its usually cooperative union. To make matters worse, South Carolina’s Attorney General, Charles Condon, charged five of the workers with various criminal conspiracy charges, putting them under house arrest. What was this embattled union to do? Their international, the AFL-CIO International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) was strongest in northeastern ports. Ken Riley, president of Local 1422 in Charleston, was seen as dissident and not beloved by the national organization, which has battled corruption charges over the years. The union’s first aid came from across the coast, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), a union with a tradition of left-wing militancy. After providing initial financial and moral support, the ILWU launched an international effort that the ILA eventually joined. Nordana, the Danish shipping company, quickly succumb to pressure from its own unions, signing with Local 1422. But the ambitious South Carolina Attorney General continued to press charges. What if union members were convicted of the charges? Would they ever work again? How would the union ever face a non-union company? Eventually, an international longshore coalition was built. Following the age old labor mantra, “An injury to one is an injury to all,” the dockers built a united front. A potential international shut-down of global shipping loomed if four African-Americans and one white dockers were brought to trial in South Carolina. South Carolina finally blinked and the “Charleston 5” walked away with minor changes. Most importantly, as the authors carefully document, workers found power again. It was power that required sophisticated networking, cross-cultural communication and a deep understanding of their industry and where they could impact it. As workers struggle to find a voice in a global economy, this important book not only shows how important international connections are, but most importantly, the step-by-step, careful work needed to win a victory. Reviewed by Michael G. Matejka |