For Immediate Release:   Oct. 2, 2002  

PMA lockout will not stop ILWU workers from working military cargo, volunteering to ensure essential supplies for Alaska, Hawaii and services to West Coast cruise lines

In the face of the illegal and irresponsible lockout of dock workers in 29 West Coast ports by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers are working military cargo, moving vital goods to Hawaii and Alaska , as well as volunteering services to cruise lines up and down the West Coast.  

The commitment to loading military materiel, to assuring the security of the residents of Hawaii and Alaska as well as the safety those who travel on cruise ships out of West Coast ports is a long-standing practice of the union. 

“We have offered this assistance up and down the Coast to make sure that the interests of the public are protected,” said James Spinosa, International President of the ILWU.  “Our members are ready and willing to work and we hope that the PMA comes to its senses soon and lets us do our jobs at all the ports.”

Here are some highlights of the work ILWU members are continuing to complete on the West Coast.

TACOMA

Despite a second lock out by the Pacific Maritime Association, ILWU Local 23 in Tacoma continues its offer to load vessels bound for Alaskan ports.

Saturday morning, Sept. 28, officers from ILWU Local 23 cooperated with the management of Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) to ensure that the cargo bound for Alaskan military bases and markets would not be delayed as a result of the lock out. Within 36 hours, the Westward Venture departed for Anchorage , Alaska .

“We recognize that the citizens of Alaska are dependent on this cargo. We loaded perishable food items, mail and consumer goods. We have never failed to deliver these necessities,” said Dick Marzano, ILWU Local 23 Vice President. “During this time of heightened national security, our longshore members are fully aware of the importance of the military cargo that crosses our docks. We will not jeopardize the health and well-being of the people of Alaska or this nation.”

ILWU Local 23 made a similar offer to CSX lines, formerly Sea-Land, a tenant of AP Moller Terminals, in Tacoma . CSX is the second major carrier of domestic and military cargo to Alaska . Maersk Pacific Stevedoring, a foreign-owned shipping company, that employs the longshore workers who work the CSX ships, refused the proposal. ILWU Local 23 continues to make this offer to work the ships.

 “Our members are willing to work under our normal hiring and dispatch methods, but the employer’s action of locking out the ILWU prohibits us from providing for the citizens of Alaska ,” Marzano said.

More than 70 percent of waterborne cargo to Alaska goes through the Port of Tacoma . This includes groceries, construction materials, medical equipment, vehicles and government freight.  In previous labor disputes, members of ILWU Local 23 have handled vital domestic and military cargo.

LOS ANGELES/LONG BEACH

ILWU leaders with Local 13 and Local 63 in Southern California have worked collaboratively with Carnival Cruise Lines to make sure that cruise ships in San Pedro can safely discharge passengers and their cargo.  Despite the PMA lockout of almost 8,000 workers in the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, ILWU members are currently working a Carnival cruise ship known as Ecstasy.

ILWU members who were picketing at the site were dispatched to other sites in order to clear the way for the cruise ship work. With the cooperation of the LAPD, members of the ILWU were able to create a safe zone to help the passengers disembark.

A sign now stands in front of the passenger terminal where ILWU members are working the cruise ship, pointing out that the union is locked out, but that longshore workers are still working with the community to maintain vital services.

SEATTLE

Late Monday night, the ILWU was contacted by Royal Caribbean Lines with an emergency request to work a cruise ship destined for San Juan .

There were no orders for ILWU member to work the ship due to the lockout, but members of the local agreed to work it anyway in order to assure passenger safety and convenience.

The cruise line was forced to come directly to the union because members of the PMA who normally are responsible for scheduling assistance to cruise lines were enforcing a lockout of ILWU members.  The Royal Caribbean officials said that Stevedore Services of America refused to discuss their crisis with them, which left the company in a very serious crisis.

The cruise company requested 30 ILWU workers, but the local union provided 100 people to make sure the docking and unloading occurred quickly and without incident.  The ILWU members are doing the work without any cooperation from the Port of Seattle or SSA.  The ILWU members volunteered their services for free, and agreed that any pay or tips we received would go to charity.

ILWU Local 19 members in Seattle have committed to continuing to work any cruise ship that enters the Port of Seattle .

For more information call ILWU Communications Director Steve Stallone at 415-775-0533 ext. 114 (office) or 510-390-4748 (cell) or see www.ilwu.org.

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