By Herb Kaye

People's Weekly World

www.pww.org

OAKLAND, Calif. - Hundreds of trade unionists, environmentalists, senior citizens and other victims of skyrocketing utility rates protested the Bush administration's energy policies at Oakland's federal building June 6.

They then marched 10 blocks to a Duke Energy power plant where they posted "eminent domain" signs on the plant gates.

The protest was called by the California Federation of Labor, the Congress of California Seniors, Region 3 (CCS), and the Federation of Retired Union Members (FORUM). The rally was opened by Tim Sampson, a leader of CCS and coordinator of a series of statewide protests, of which the Oakland demonstration was the first.

"We are here to send a message to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Bush administration, that they won't get away with energy blackmail," Sampson declared.

"FERC's failure to do its job threatens every job, every school, every hospital, and every person in California and in the nation," Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation, told the crowd.

"Bush has given the power generators a license to steal - steal our money, our jobs, our health care, our education programs. He came to California last week and said, 'No price limits,' to the people of California. Well, we are not going to let him get away with it."

The rally featured brief remarks by Chuck Mack, secretary-treasurer of the Western Conference of Teamsters; Andy Barnes, chairman of CCS Region 3; and Judy Goff, executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda County Central Labor Council.

At the Duke plantgate, Sampson read a resolution stating that Duke Energy acquired the plant "pursuant to California law, which intended to provide fair market rates for electricity," but "had abused the trust of the people of California by participating in outrageous pricing and unfair manipulation of the market ... charging as much as $3,880 a megawatt hour, the highest price paid to a generator."

The question of approving "eminent domain as necessary to address this situation and restore fair pricing for electricity," was then presented.

After the crowd voted unanimously by a loud "Yea," Pulaski and others put up a large printed proclamation declaring "Notice of Intent to take this property by "eminent domain."

As specified in California Civil Code 1245.230, the notice said, "Duke Energy is hereby ordered to meet with representatives of this Assembly, the Alameda County Central Labor Council, and the California Labor Federation to respond to this notice and turn over this power plant. Signed: Art Pulaski, California Labor Federation, and Judy Goff, Alameda County CLC."

A letter to FERC from California Working Families and signed by Pulaski was also read to the rally. It cited FERC's mandate in the Federal Power Act to "ensure that all rates and charges and all rules and regulations pertaining to these rates shall be just and reasonable."

The letter also called on FERC to immediately impose price controls on electricity and natural gas and order full refunds, and that public hearings on the matter to be promptly scheduled in California. The Oakland protest was the first in a series of six scheduled by the state labor federation to focus on the need for price controls on energy; using the state's power of eminent domain to take over power plants; and an excess profits tax on the obscene profits of the energy companies.

Information about other scheduled protests is available through the California Federation of Labor at (415) 986-3585 or www.calaborfed.org.