West Coast Longshore Contract Campaign

Weekly Member Update:  Sept. 19, 2002

Update from the Bargaining Table:  

On Thursday, Sept. 12, the parties agreed to tackle the clerk technology issue head on by forming a small subcommittee of the technology subcommittee in order to hammer out an agreement.  The small group consists of four representatives from the PMA side and four representatives from the ILWU.  The PMA stated that key members of their committee could not meet until Sunday, Sept. 15 and the negotiations were put off until then.  On Sunday, the parties met and good dialogue and progress was reported by ILWU representatives.  On Monday, Sept. 16, PMA cancelled the day’s meetings.  The parties met again all day Tuesday and Wednesday at the PMA.

On Thursday afternoon, Sept. 19 the PMA threatened the ILWU that as of Friday morning Sept. 20 at 8:00 a.m. it will lock out longshore labor in the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports. This threat must be taken seriously and the ILWU must plan accordingly. The Negotiating Committee will be in touch with local officers and all members should look to them for further information.

PMA Makes False Accusations:  This week, the PMA issued a press release alleging that the ILWU is engaging in work slowdowns at the Port of Long Beach.  In the release, PMA chief Joe Miniace threatened “defensive” actions to retaliate for the alleged work slowdowns.  The PMA’s claims are untrue.  We have not engaged in work slowdowns in Long Beach.  The backup of work is related to the shortage of skilled crane operators to keep up with the expanded workload created by the PMA’s hysteria over possible work actions.

SSA Actions:  We held a series of very successful demonstrations along the West Coast Wednesday to protest against efforts of Stevedoring Services of America (SSA) to sabotage our contract negotiations.  As the largest stevedoring company in the nation, and the power player behind the scenes which recruited Joe Miniace as PMA’s chief, SSA is a major obstacle to achieving a fair contract for ILWU members. 

Media coverage of the events was extensive and favorable for ILWU. Articles ran in the San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, San Jose Mercury News, and several other papers.  Numerous television stations also covered the events.  For more information, go to our website at www.ilwu.org.

ILWU Protests Anti-Union Bush Official During LA Visit:  ILWU workers spoke out this week against the union-busting tactics of the Bush Administration and its Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.  Members stood outside of the Biltmore in Downtown Los Angeles to bring attention to the Bush Administration’s horrible labor record, and to demand a fair contract for ILWU employees.  Chao cancelled out on another scheduled speaking engagement in San Francisco this week, but Chinese garment workers nonetheless went forward with their protest against Chao and the Bush Administration.

Tentative Diesel Agreement Reached : 

Negotiators with the ILWU and the PMA have tentatively agreed on a pioneering program to begin reducing diesel emissions that threaten the health of port workers and port communities. The plan was the top health and safety priority of the union in the ongoing labor contract negotiations.  The employer and union safety committees, that parallel the “big table” negotiations, bargain the safety regulations that comprise a large part of the contract.  OSHA has only recently recognized diesel emissions as a workplace hazard. It has begun to develop regulations for exposure, but is not expected to finalize them for another two or three years. The union decided it could not wait that long. The two parties have agreed not to release the details of tentative agreements until the entire contract is settled.

Web Site Updated Daily:  It is extremely important that ILWU members stay up to date on the important developments in the ongoing campaign to secure a fair contract for our members.  This is why we urge all members to check the web site frequently.  We update the site on a daily basis with the latest details on the status of the bargaining campaign.  Please go to www.ilwu.org on a regular basis for the latest news.  And don’t forget to pick up the latest copy of The Dispatcher for more information on major issues affecting ILWU members.

URGENT NOTE ON DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT:  Officials at each ILWU local should ensure that copies of this update are distributed widely to the membership each Thursday promptly after it arrives.  Thank you for your active participation in this process.

cwa39521