Community picket lines and social movement unionism on the U.S. docks, 2014–2021: Organizing lessons from the Block the Boat campaign for Palestine

This paper examines community-initiated picket lines in solidarity with Palestine at the ports of Oakland, Long Beach, Seattle, and Port Elizabeth in 2014 and 2021 which sought to enable dockworkers to participate in effective de facto work stoppages for political ends despite a restrictive legal context. Using a comparative case study approach, the analysis highlights key contextual factors – including urban proximity, terminal accessibility, and union political history – that shaped the ability of campaigners to block vessels from the Zim shipping line. The research also identifies crucial organizing variables, including the capacity of community groups to mobilize large picket lines, the role of “bridge-builders” linking unions and community actors, and sustained research, education and outreach efforts. Findings provide critical insights into identifying promising targets for action and instituting effective organizing practices for labor and community activists seeking to jointly advance social justice goals at the workplace within a legally constrained environment.