This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now newsletter for BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), a rapid transit rail system in the San Francisco Bay Area – August 24, 2026
The five-week strike of workers at C&H Sugar in Crockett, was attacked on July 21 by Contra Costa Sheriffs. C&H bosses called them because workers and their supporters were blocking scabs from crossing the picket line. Workers were injured and one sent to the hospital when scabs tried to drive their car through the picket line.
Of course it wasn’t the people who assaulted the workers, with their cars who were arrested. It was workers who belong to ILWU Local 6 who were defending their jobs who were beaten and arrested.
Workers were on strike because management refused to back off its demands to eliminate medical benefits for new retirees, recognize seniority for assigning overtime and pay overtime for work beyond eight hours, cutting sick days and more.
When C&H Sugar diverted a raw sugar delivery to the non-union Levin terminal in Richmond and partially unloaded it on a contaminated dock, ILWU Local 10 members, who historically have done this work, picketed. C&H then moved the ship to their terminal in Crockett. Local 10 has been honoring ILWU Local 6 pickets.
When those arrested showed up for their hearing last week at Richmond Superior Court, charges had not been filed. About 80 people were there to support those called for the morning hearing and more than 100 for the afternoon.
The bosses and their courts may think they can wait us out. But we need to make sure that there are even more who turn out next time. If they get away with this, these kinds of attacks will become standard. The union slogan An Injury to One is an Injury to All was never so true as now.
