Changes

While claiming not to be a Communist Party member loyal to [[Moscow]], Harry Bridges led his Longshoremen union to do everything that Communist Party apparatchiks would do. In 1936, he ordered his workers not to load shipments of scrap metal sold to [[Japan]]. Japan at the time was at peace with the United States, but its [[fascist]] troops in [[Manchuria]] were a barrier to the Soviet empire's expansion in the Far East.  

While claiming not to be a Communist Party member loyal to [[Moscow]], Harry Bridges led his Longshoremen union to do everything that Communist Party apparatchiks would do. In 1936, he ordered his workers not to load shipments of scrap metal sold to [[Japan]]. Japan at the time was at peace with the United States, but its [[fascist]] troops in [[Manchuria]] were a barrier to the Soviet empire's expansion in the Far East.  

While [[Hitler]]’s Germany had a peace treaty with the [[Soviet Union]], Bridges refused to expedite FDR’s shipments of military supplies to Great Britain. But the moment Hitler attacked the Soviet Union, Bridges mobilized his workers to set productivity records speeding the flow of goods to those opposing Nazi Germany. Bridges also attacked other unions’ workers who threatened strikes or work slowdowns to get higher wages when this might reduce the flow of goods to those on the Soviet side of the conflict.  

During the [[Spanish Civil War]], Bridges and the ILWU had opposed the [[Neutrality Act]], supporting aid to the [[USSR|Soviet]]-backed forces in that conflict. But during the [[Nazi-Soviet pact]], the ILWU under Bridges did an about-face, suddenly discovering that "war in Europe was of no concern to it," according to a report by the CIO. "It attacked President Roosevelt and his policy of giving aid to allies" Britain and France, then fighting for their lives under the [[Nazi]] onslaught. According to Bridges, "the present Administration's policies" of [[Lend-Lease]] to the allies "have no concern except the protection of the investments of the large bankers and industrial interests of the country." But the moment Hitler attacked the Soviet Union, Bridges demanded all-out American support for the [[Soviet Union]],<ref>Harvey Schwartz, [http://foundsf.org/index.php?title=Harry_Bridges Harry Bridges: Historical Essay], FoundSF</ref> mobilizing his workers to set productivity records speeding the flow of goods to those opposing Nazi Germany. Bridges also attacked other unions’ workers who threatened strikes or work slowdowns to get higher wages when this might reduce the flow of goods to those on the Soviet side of the conflict.  

Bridges became a U.S. citizen in 1945. Under Bridges' leadership the ILWU continued to grow in size and influence, and took an active stand against the [[Korean war]] and [[Vietnam war]].

Bridges became a U.S. citizen in 1945. Under Bridges' leadership the ILWU continued to grow in size and influence, and took an active stand against the [[Korean war]] and [[Vietnam war]].