Occupy Oakland has long (for its short existence!) supported labor, but on its own terms. During the General Strike on November 2nd, it was Occupy Oakland that directed the Port of Oakland shutdown with the support of thousands of labor activists and tens of thousands of just plain folks. And again on December 12th, it was Occupy Oakland and other Occupies around the country that led the West Coast Port Shutdown effort.
Today things changed.
Today, at the explicit request of workers belonging to Bakery Workers Union Local 125, on strike over health insurance since December 5th at the American Licorice Company in Union City, CA (about 20 miles south of Oakland), Occupy Oakland joined the picket lines.
Today, the management of the American Licorice Company ("we really love candy") got an initial view of how, shall we say, energetic, an Occupy Oakland picket can be. A number of vans were prevented from coming in and out of the plant (at least until the police intervened), and a number of drivers of large semis were convinced to turn around before entering the plant -- in solidarity with the strike.
Tomorrow, partly because of today's action by Occupy Oakland, a number of local labor unions will be down in Union City in official support of the strike.
There was one particularly poignant moment captured on video by OakFoSho, Occupy Oakland's resident videographer. An elderly man, an employee of the SEIU and member of the cemetery union (who knew?), carried himself and his walker into the picket line in support of the strikers. Forward the embedded video to the 1:16:00 mark to begin (sorry, I can't figure out how to get the embed to start there; nothing I try works for these UStream videos). Make sure you watch!
OakFoSho: What are you thoughts on what the American Licorice Company is doing to these workers?
Gentleman: It's fucked. Really fucked.
The workers, who in past negotiations have given up wage increases and pension benefits in exchange for health insurance, are now being told they must eat a significant portion of their health insurance premiums if they want to come back to work. Their contract ran out this summer, they finally walked out on December 5th, and the company has recently begun hiring replacement workers.
Whether it was a coincidence or because of the stepped up labor action, American Licorice Management today agreed to meet with workers' representatives to begin negotiations. Those negotiations began at 10:00 AM; Occupy Oakland arrived at 5:00 AM. Previously, management had refused to even consider negotiations, even rebuffing state legislators attempts to catalyze talks!
When California state representatives from the area tried to meet with the company's management to encourage the company to go back to the negotiating table, they were asked to leave by security and told that they would contact the police if they did not.
(According to OakFoSho, workers representatives refused to say how today's negotiations had gone, but stated that they would be discussing what happened at a meeting of the striking workers later tonight or tomorrow. Let's hope there is significant progress).
These workers have been out on the sidewalks in front of American Licorice twenty four hours a day for more than a month, with barely any notice by anyone. As one of the workers put it:
This has been the best day, because we got help from Occupy Oakland.
If less than a hundred Occupiers on a single day can, as it seems, make both the media and company management stand up and take notice, imagine what 10,000 or 100,000 Occupiers across the country in solidarity with their labor brothers and sisters can do. In fact, we've seen what such grand alliance can do already -- in Wisconsin, with the Occupation of the Capitol and the recall efforts. Now is the time to understand the power of unity and begin to take this alliance national.
8:00 PM PT:
OccupyOakland Occupy Oakland
#LicoriceStrike update- Four shipping trucks refused to cross picket, Boss was prevented from entering his own factory, No arrests. +1 #OO
8:11 PM PT:
American Licorice Company currently has a number of manufacturing positions available in our Union City, CA facility. If you have manufacturing experience please send your resume to unioncityjobs@amerlic.com
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
Please Note: STRIKE CONDITIONS PREVAIL.
John Nelson, American Licorice Company
Via Craigslist
10:43 PM PT: Great essay: Occupy Oakland Supports American Licorice Strike