For Immediate Release
Contact:
or 510-390-4748
As unprecedented amounts of cargo remain off the West Coast docks, the West Coast dockworkers called on the public and retailers to call the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) - - the employer group representing the ports and shippers - - to urge them to hire and train enough workers to move the cargo.
Representatives of the dockworkers union – the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) – pointed out that the PMA could help alleviate the congestion by promoting casual workers to full-time registered longshore workers. PMA is reluctant to make that move because casuals make a lower wage and don’t qualify for health benefits or pensions and because new workers would then become union members, bolstering the union. While the problem was widespread, it was most evident at docks in Oakland and Seattle
“The PMA has the power to move this cargo safely and efficiently - - but they need to hire more hands,” said ILWU President James Spinosa. “Instead, the PMA has chosen to continue its pattern of holding the American public and economy hostage by serving its own interests first and furthering its plans to weaken the workers’ union. They did that when they locked the workers out, and they’re doing it now.”
The union pointed out that while it takes time to train workers to work on the dangerous and complicated docks, the PMA could bolster its effort by beefing up its hiring and training program, including moving more ‘casual’ workers into full-time status and, in turn, bringing on more casual workers. In doing so, the PMA would be able to relieve the congestion in the ports. Instead, the PMA has made no apparent effort to increase its hiring training, and actually cancelled some health and safety trainings.
The union called on the public, small businesses and retailers to contact the PMA directly at 415-576-3200 to ask them to hire and train more workers.
CALL THE PMA at 415-576-3200 AND ASK FOR MORE STAFF ON THE DOCKS