Occupy Vancouver port protest fizzles as labour federation denounces protest

VANCOUVER - A plan to blockade Vancouver's port by Occupy protesters on a West Coast day of action fizzled when the B.C. Federation of Labour denounced the demonstration.

Protesters carried a large banner reading "Stop Port Expansion" spanning three lanes of traffic but only about 80 demonstrators straggled behind it on Monday afternoon.

Occupy spokesman Maxim Winther said the federation's lack of support means the movement has more work to do.

"Regarding turnout today, I think it's clear we need more time to educate the public and educate each other on what these issues are and to really find actions and issues that do galvanize the public."

At its peak in Vancouver several weeks ago, the Occupy Vancouver encampment in the city's downtown drew thousands of people, including many members of the B.C. Federation of Labour.

But the federation issued a statement against the port protest before it started.

"The B.C. Federation of Labour does not support this action, or any action by the Occupy Vancouver group at Vancouver area ports that seeks to prevent our members from carrying out their assigned duties and working safely," the statement said.

The group carrying banners and placards on Monday walked a few blocks between a park and an entrance to the port.

Several dozen police officers, standing elbow to elbow, stopped protesters at the entrance while two police wagons were stationed nearby if needed.

Protesters milled about for about an hour before turning around and disbanding. Some of them had planned to go to another entrance to the port.

Winther said many of the participants wanted to demonstrate their collective power and shut down the ports for the planned 12 hours, but the federation's statement changed their plans.

They were protesting because workers' rights are under attack, with union busting and back-to-work legislation both in the United States and in Canada, Winther said.

"Shutting down the port for a day, it's really not a big deal unless maybe you're the one per cent and you're losing millions of dollars," he said.

Occupy protesters have said they are the 99 per cent of people struggling to survive, while the one per cent in the top tier rakes in the wealth.

On Monday, Anti-Wall Street protesters in the United States launched the Wall Street on the Waterfront movement and asked supporters from California to Alaska to blockade city ports.

More than 1,000 Occupy Wall Street protesters blocked cargo trucks at some of the busiest ports in the U.S., forcing terminals in Oakland, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Longview, Wash., to stop operations.

Police said many people were arrested after dozens of protesters blocked an entrance to a Port of Seattle facility.

Back in Vancouver, Const. Lindsey Houghton of the Vancouver Police Department said in a media release that five people were arrested for breach of the peace and all were released from custody by 6 p.m.

He said police have laid no criminal charges.

While Vancouver's protest wasn't as successful, Winther said the group will consider future port action.

"It's definitely on the radar," he said. "All we're hoping for is more dialogue with unions and First Nations communities so that next time we'll be out in full force."

Trucker driver Dimas Carvala wasn't bothered by a temporary delay as protesters surrounded his semi when he left the port.

"These people know what they're fighting for so good on them," he said. "As long as I'm not stuck here for the next three hours." (The Canadian Press, The Associated Press)

Note to readers: Adds dropped number in second para, adds arrests by VPD