In a powerful display of solidarity, the ATU joined striking Dockworkers, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), at Red Hook Terminal in Brooklyn, NY, reinforcing the connection between transit workers and the workers who handle our nation’s goods.
Delivering water and food to our striking brothers and sisters of the ILA, the ATU General Executive Board (GEB), led by International President John Costa, International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, and Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, hit the ILA picket line to demand fair wages and an end to automation for the tens of thousands of ILA workers on strike along the East Coast.
ATU leaders and members standing shoulder to shoulder with the Longshoremen symbolized a united front in the fight for workers’ rights.
In a call and response of “Who moves this country. The ILA moves this country” and “Who moves this city. The ATU moves this city,” IP Costa fired up striking ILA members on their picket lines. “ATU is in the house. On behalf of our 200,000 members, we are here to support you. Our GEB was in town for a meeting. When we heard you went on strike last night, we called our New York City Locals to come join us to stand in solidarity with you,” Costa told the ILA members. “We just came off successful strike lines in Vancouver and Jackson, MS. We know how to hold the line and are going to hold this line with you until you get what you deserve.”
The ATU will continue to support the Longshoremen as they fight for their rights and all of us in the labor movement. Thank you to our New York Locals for showing up in force today! An Injury to One is an Injury to ALL!