BY BRIAN WILLIAMS
BALTIMORE, Maryland - Some 150 people picketed Crown
Central Petroleum's corporate headquarters here February 11.
The action marked the third anniversary of the lockout of 250
members of Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy
Workers (PACE) Local 4-227 at Crown's Pasadena, Texas,
refinery.
Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, United Auto Workers, Teamsters, PACE, Amalgamated Transit Union, United Steelworkers of America, and International Association of Machinists took part. About 20 young people with Clean Water Action joined the rally.
"We must hold Crown accountable for air pollution," stated Kalima Young, a member of this group. "We're for protecting the workplace and the environment."
"We're here today to let the public know what this company has done -violated environmental rights, engaged in racism, sexism, and union-busting," stated John Grant, a locked-out member of PACE Local 4-227.
Also speaking was a representative of the Baltimore chapter of the National Organization for Women.
Alvin Freeman, also locked-out by Crown, pointed to the role of the government in advancing the company's antiunion campaign. "When we said no to them on their union-busting contract, they locked us out," stated Freeman. "Twenty-six days later they called in the FBI to look for Crown workers trying to exercise their constitutional right to demand a fair contract." Freeman was referring to frame-up charges of sabotage the company filed against the unionists.
Brian Williams is a member of USWA Local 2609 in Sparrows Point, Maryland.