A picket line formed at the entrance of the Port of Portland's Terminal 6 early this morning to prevent the unloading of an Italian ship, the Cielo de San Francisco. This action was undertaken by local activists to protest the violent and inhumane treatment of protesters during the recent anti-G8 protests in Genoa, Italy. Terminal 6 workers organized under the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) refused to cross the picket line, guaranteeing that the ship would not be unloaded at that time.

At 10:45 a.m., after arbitration, ILWU leadership decided not to recognize this picket as "bona fide" and ordered workers back to their jobs. However, it was already too late to call that shift back in. It is possible that the leadership could reverse this decision if an Italian union came out in solidarity with the picket, or if enough people join the picket. Since today is a national holiday in Italy, and union leaders there have been difficult to reach, picket organizers are hoping for a strong immediate showing of solidarity locally. The word on the street is that some of the Charleston Five organizers might fly here for this event.

Picket organizers are asking for people to join the line at or before 5:00 p.m., if possible, for the start of the next work shift. [ Invitation to join picket at Terminal 6 ]

Check with IMC Portland for more updates as this story develops. Also, tune into KBOO's evening news at 5:00 for their report on these events.

[ Photos of picket ]