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OAKLAND TRIBUNE 12/3/98 pg. 2 ACTIVISITS AND STEELWORKERS UNITE IN PROTEST AT CITY HALL By Jill Tucker, Staff Writer Environmental folk songs merged with union worker chants Wednesday during a lunchtime protest of logging and labor practices by Maxxam Corp. at Oakland City Hall. The 200 protesters included members of the Bay Area Coalition for Headwaters and a national contingent of United Steelworkers of America. The unlikely alliance came together simultaneously to support an ongoing strike of Kaiser Aluminum, to protect the ancient Redwoods of Headwaters Forest, and to protest a logging plan proposed by Pacific Lumber Company. Both Pacific Lumber Kaiser Aluminum and are owned by Maxxam Corp. "We love trees. We love steel. This alliance is for real," the protesters chanted in unison as they marched from Oakland Convention Center to City Hall. Several marchers said that while the merging of the two issues seemed like an unusual combination, both groups were actually fighting for a better quality of life under Maxxam Corp. "Having a sustainable policy as far as jobs and economic policy and a sustainable policy for sound environmental concerns are one and the same," said David Foster, director of United Steelworkers of America, District 11. The union workers have been on strike against the Pleasanton- based Kaiser Aluminum since Sept. 30, after management proposed the elimination of up to 900 jobs in contract negotiations. "This sort of tactic, grandstanding, really doesn't contribute to the process of getting a contract," said Scott Lamb, Kaiser vice president of corporate communications. Lamb said he was puzzled at the peculiar alliance of the environmentalists and union labor. "It's a real stretch that's there any legitimate connection there," he said. No further contract negotiations are scheduled. __________________________________________ wire services contributed to this report -------------------------------------------- PHOTO: A nonunion cameraman for ABC is met with opposition and protest while covering a protest against unfair labor practices. *************************************** other Bay Area media coverage included: TV: KGO 6:00 Evening News Bay TV 9:00 Evening News KTVU 10:00 Evening News Radio: KPFA Flashpoints / Dennis Bernstein KPFA David Bacon KQED News Print: (have only checked a few so far) Oakland Tribune, pg 2 AP (rolled it into the Leslie Reid / Headwaters Plan story) Santa Rosa Press Democrat Bay Guardian (upcoming) East Bay Express (upcoming)
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