Activism

Coalition of Schools and Port Workers Calls for Day of Action Against Privatization, April 29

“The billionaires are after our public resources here in the City of Oakland,” according to a Schools and Labor Against Privatization (S.L.A.P.) media statement. “The Oakland School Board has recently voted to close 11 public schools, despite overwhelming opposition from the community. School closures disproportionately harm communities of color. They are part of a long-term plan by corporations to destroy public education — selling them off to real estate developers or converting them into charter schools.”

Published

4 years ago

April 24, 2022

Oakland Post

Teachers and Longshore workers of ILWU Local hold a rally at Oakland City Hall Feb. 17, kicking off the labor/community coalition to stop the A’s real estate deal to privatize the Port of Oakland and the closure and privatization of neighborhood public schools. Photo courtesy of Indybay, Leon Kunstenaar.

Coalition will hold Zoom forum April 30 to ask candidates where they stand on a school and port privatization

By Post Staff

Many Oakland teachers will be striking and joining with ILWU longshore workers on Friday, April 29 against privatization and closures of Oakland schools and the privatization and destruction of the Port of Oakland by the Mayor, the City Council and state Democrats. There will be a rally at 2 p.m. at Oscar Grant Plaza and march through Oakland.

Coming together as a new organization called Schools and Labor Against Privatization (S.L.A.P.), the coalition decided to hold a rally on International Workers Day (May 1). Because the holiday this year falls on a Sunday. The strikes and march will be held on Friday.

Following the day of action, S.L.A.P. will hold a forum on Zoom on Saturday, April 30 to interview candidates for mayor, Alameda County Board of Supervisors and Alameda County Supt. of Schools, to find out where they stand on the issue of school closings and Port privatization.

On the day of the action, ILWU Local 10 has informed the port that they will have a Port shutdown. A rally will be held at 2 p.m. at Oscar Grant Plaza at Oakland City Hall, with a march at 3 p.m. to Oakland Unified School District Headquarters at 1000 Broadway.

“The billionaires are after our public resources here in the City of Oakland,” according to a S.L.A.P. media statement.

“The Oakland School Board has recently voted to close 11 public schools, despite overwhelming opposition from the community. School closures disproportionately harm communities of color. They are part of a long-term plan by corporations to destroy public education — selling them off to real estate developers or converting them into charter schools.

“Meanwhile, the City of Oakland is planning to spend $855 million in taxpayer money to construct a new A’s stadium and condo complex at Howard Terminal, which is crucial to the Port of Oakland,” the statement continued. “These privatization schemes are part of the gentrification of Oakland — attacking working-class communities, destroying union jobs, and displacing low-income residents of the Bay Area.”

The Saturday Zoom candidate forum will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. To register for the meeting, go to https://tinyurl.com/2wckehd7