Community Pickets and the Future of Social Movement Unionism
What the Block the Boat campaign teaches us about building durable labour–community alliances
When dockworkers and community organisers joined forces to disrupt Israeli shipping on the U.S. West Coast, they demonstrated how theory and practice intersect in real time. Katy Fox-Hodess and Rafeef Ziadah’s research on these actions offers lessons for anyone interested in labour–community coalitions and the politics of solidarity.
The campaign targeted Zim Integrated Shipping Services, Israel’s largest cargo carrier. By preventing Zim vessels from docking and unloading, activists aimed to exert economic pressure on Israel during military assaults on Gaza. When dockworkers in Oakland refused to cross a community picket line, they showed that workplace action can amplify social movements even in hostile legal environments. This comparative study explains why some actions succeeded while others faltered.
At its core, the tactic of community picket lines allowed workers to withhold labour without calling an official strike – a workaround in a country where political strikes have been banned since the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. These pickets were not mere blockades; they relied on careful choreography between activists and union members. Success depended on two sets of factors: contextual variables and organising variables.
What made Oakland different?
Oakland’s port sits adjacent to a dense urban centre, making it easier to mobilise thousands of protesters. The local union, ILWU Local 10, has a long history of left-wing activism and internationalism. Bridge-builders within the union – individuals who could translate between labour and community cultures – played a decisive role. They brokered meetings, advised on messaging, and helped activists understand union dynamics.
Community organisers invested weeks in outreach at the hiring hall, linking Palestinian liberation to issues like racist policing in the United States. This deep organising paid off: dockworkers refused to cross the picket line, and Zim Shipping eventually withdrew from the West Coast.
Why did other ports struggle?
Seattle and Long Beach faced logistical and political hurdles. While Seattle’s port was accessible, its union local was politically divided, and outreach was rushed. Long Beach suffered from geographic isolation and a moderate union culture. In both cases, smaller picket lines and weaker union ties left activists vulnerable to police repression. Port Elizabeth in New Jersey presented the toughest challenge: high securitisation, privatised roads, and a conservative union leadership meant that actions never gained traction.
Lessons for future campaigns
Fox-Hodess and Ziadah highlight three essentials for effective community pickets:
Bridge-builders matter – they help navigate union politics and sustain trust.
Research and education are non-negotiable – understanding workplace geography and union history shapes strategy.
Numbers count – large picket lines provide legal cover for workers and deter police intervention.
The Block the Boat campaign shows that solidarity actions can move beyond symbolism to materially disrupt commerce – but only with meticulous planning and long-term relationship building. For organisers seeking to expand “bargaining for the common good” into the private sector, these lessons are invaluable.
Read more:
Fox-Hodess, K., & Ziadah, R. (2025). Community picket lines and social movement unionism on the U.S. docks, 2014–2021: Organizing lessons from the Block the Boat campaign for Palestine. Critical Sociology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/08969205251375053
Dr Rafeef Ziadah is a Senior Lecturer in Politics and Public Policy (Emerging Economies). Her research focuses broadly on political economy, gender and race, with a particular focus on the Middle East and East Africa.