Ready to rock: These Local 5 members, seen here recreating a famous picket line photo from the 1948 Portland strike, are among those performing on August 27th to celebrate the Local’s 10th anniversary.
On Friday, August 27th, ILWU Local 5 will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary with a “Rock Out To Walk Out” event. It is also the CD release of the Little Red Album Volume 1, a compilation made up of rank and file workers writing new music to classic union songs from the IWW’s Little Red Songbook.This project came to Local 5 through one of its rank and file members, Bryan Bingold.
“It was an idea that I had for a music project of my own,” Bingold explains.“But then I went to a house show with some of my fellow union member’s bands and I realized the massive talent that is in our union. This idea started growing and I felt that I needed to see if Local 5 would be interested in helping out; with CD sales going help us build our strike fund.”
Bingold, together with fellow member Sheila Ashdown and Union Representative and IEB member, Ryan Takes, formed a committee to organize the event. The union was completely behind the idea, as it was already planning the “Rock Out To Walk Out” event as a strike fund benefit. “The idea of having this CD help the local was important to me,” Bingold said. “But maybe even more important is the retelling of these union stories in a new way to a new audience. I only know of labor’s recent struggle because I chose to educate myself. I’m hoping that by getting this CD out to the general public that it might inspire others to look at unions more, get them interested in union history, and thinking about the future of organized labor.”
“It is a lofty goal,” Bingold admits. “Yet one that I think is important, which is why we called this ‘Volume 1’. Both the local and I want to continue to release more compilation albums, with each new release growing in scope and design and encourage other chapters of the ILWU to contribute songs to releasing an album of all original labor songs. Of course, all that is depending on how well this CD sells. It’s time to see what organized labor purchasing powers can do!”
Not only is Local 5 selling the Little Red Album, but it is also selling a special edition of The Ne’er-Do-Well literary magazine that Sheila Ashdown publishes. This issue focuses solely on features submissions from rank-and file-members as well.
“It’s been really fun and really busy trying to get this thing off the ground,” Bingold stated. “But we’re close to the event now, so I wanted to invite all of our union sisters and brothers to come out and celebrate Local 5’s tenth anniversary. It’s time to party!” The “Rock Out To Walk Out” will be held at The Cleaners at 10th and S.W. Stark in Portland on Friday, August 27th. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. and admission is $5 sliding scale. If you wish to purchase a copy of the Little Red Album, contact Local 5 at Local5@ILWULocal5.com. CDs are $10 + $5 shipping. All proceeds benefit the Local 5 strike fund.
– Celeste Figley