Local unions have declared their support for the Nov. 2 General Strike called by the Occupy Oakland General Assembly.

And while most unions aren’t using the language of a “general strike,” many are urging participation in what they call a “mass day of action.”

Richard Mead, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, says his organization has supported the Occupy Movement from its inception, but while Local 10 members will be demonstrating tomorrow they will not be striking. 

“A general strike is much different from a protest,” Mead said. “In our constitution we have language that says before any strike can be called for we must have consent of two thirds of membership.” The ILWU’s contract with employers also includes a no-strike clause. “We just can’t take that one step."

With or without a strike, ILWU support is a powerful tool.

“People seek our endorsement for a reason. When there’s something we can do we will do it," Mead said. "The powers that be in the global economy know this. The fact that we can’t call for a general strike is not to say that other support we give would be lip service."

As for the proposed march on the port, Mead supports the move.

“The port is an absolutely appropriate target for a protest. That is where these global conglomerates do business,” he said. But Local 10 members will keep working through the demonstration.

Mead said we won’t see a general strike tomorrow, but we are witnessing the birth of an alliance between Occupy and labor.

“We were born out of a general strike in 1934,” Mead said. “The entire city of San Francisco shut down for three days and the workers ran everything. Obviously that’s not going to happen tomorrow, but the beautiful thing about it is that they (Occupy Oakland) made that call. They’re trying to figure it out.

“I think that Occupy Oakland and Occupy Wall Street are discovering the labor movement. They’re discovering that there’s power that they hadn’t realized was there,” he said. “They’re gonna figure out that they have an ally with labor; that an injury to one is an injury to all. If targeting the ports catches on, what happens then? Then they stop the world ... literally. There’s no telling where this can go.” 

The Alameda Labor Council, which represents local unions, has disseminated a statement to Oakland unions proclaiming solidarity with the action.

The Labor Council urges unions to host worksite actions on the morning of Nov. 2, attend the noon Wells Fargo action and places special emphasis on a 5 p.m. massive mobilization at City Hall. The Labor Council also will be hosting a solidarity barbecue in Frank Ogawa Plaza at 7 p.m. 

The SEIU 1021 Executive Board is encouraging members to participate in a “peaceful day of action.” SEIU makes a clear distinction between this endorsement and a union-sanctioned strike: 

“Occupy Oakland has called for a 'general strike,' but SEIU 1021 is not asking any members to 'go on strike' - that would be a violation of many SEIU 1021 contracts,” announced the organization. Instead, the union is asking members to use “legitimate time off” to participate in the day’s events. 

The city of Oakland has agreed that workers may use a day of comp time, vacation time, a floating holiday or leave without pay in order to participate.

The Oakland Education Association, the Peralta Federation of Teachers and the Berkeley Federation of Teachers are urging members to participate in a number of ways, including taking personal leave to join actions, doing informational picketing at schools and holding teach-ins on the history of general strikes and organizing for economic justice.

Teachers will gather at 1515 Clay St. (behind City Hall) at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Local 713 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters has endorsed the strike and condemned the use of police force against protestors, and UAW 2865, which represents employees of the University of California, has issued a resolution of support.

The Philippine Airline Employees Association issued a statement of solidarity, writing “Truly the movement against corporate greed and capitalist globalization is international in scope,” and referencing occupation efforts by more than a thousand association members outside the international airports of Manila and Cebu.